Total and Spawning Biomass (Fecundity) - Estimated biomass and biomass at age exhibited a largely similar pattern to that of abundance (Figures 13 and 14; Table 8). Total biomass was stable from 1977 until the mid-2000s, when the biomass started to increase. Estimated fecundity was stable from 1977 to the mid-1990s after which fecundity has increased until 2015 (Figure 15). - Fishing mortality - Estimated fishing mortality rates (F) were high from 1977 to the mid-1990s with the highest fishing mortality rates occurring in the mid-to late-1980s (Figure 18; Tables 9 and 10). After the mid-1990s, the fishing mortality rate has continued to decline, but at a slower rate. Figure 5 shows total predicted landings in weight. Commercial harvest exceeds 800,000 mt during much of the 1980s, but declined afterwards to stabilize between 400,000 and 500,000 mt for much of the past decade (Figure 5). - Status of the Stock and Fishery - Base run estimates of spawning stock biomass showed stability near the threshold during 1977 until the mid-1990s after which the SSB increased (Figure 15; Table 9). Current stock status in the base run was estimated to be SSB2015/SSB30% = 3.51 (Table 11). MCB analysis suggests that the stock status determination of being not overfished (i.e. SSB>SSB30%) has a low degree of uncertainty (Figures 21, 22, and 23). Over 99% of MCB runs were greater than SSB30% in the terminal year. The estimated time series F/F30% suggests that overfishing has occurred historically, but only prior to 1990 (Figure 21; Table 9). Currently fishery status in the terminal year is estimated in the base run to be F2015/F30% = 0.11 (Table 11). This estimate indicates that overfishing is not occurring and appears robust across MCB trials (Figures 22 and 23). Across all MCB runs, 99% of runs were less than F30% in the terminal year. The Gulf of Mexico Gulf menhaden population is not overfished and overfishing is not occurring. The base run and all sensitivity runs indicate the same stock status. In addition, most of the MCB trials indicated the same stock status. In general, there is very little risk of overfishing or of being overfished (Figure 24).