Wildlife biologists, conservation organizations, local fishermen and even President Trump are monitoring a dramatic decrease in numbers of menhaden – known colloquially as bunker – in the Atlantic Ocean. On and near Long Beach Island, the scarcity of this small schooling fish not only has affected anglers who catch the bunker to sell to tackle shops for bait, it’s caused populations of ospreys to collapse, as the lack of menhaden leads to abandoned incubation or starvation of young.

“Results from surveys this summer are on track to be the lowest recorded since early recovery efforts for ospreys began…