Omega Protein's US Atlantic menhaden purse seine fishery was given a tentative thumbs up for Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification -- with key caveats.

Certification group SAI Global wrote in its public comment draft report that fishery was "provisionally recommended" for certification provided it addresses key concerns outlined in the report during the course of specific timelines.

Among the weaknesses of the fishery, according to SAI, are a failure to have sufficient data on bycatch and failure to fully take into account menhaden's role in the ecosystem when setting harvest strategies.