why are there so many blue catfish in the bay

But they can tolerate water that is not completely fresh. They are silvery-blue in color with a white belly. As you’ll read in his story, blue catfish are an alien species, deposited in regional waters the way so many oddities arrive: released by humans, in this case to build a new fishery. Fillet portions (3 oz, 4oz, 8oz), whole-fish, gutted or un-gutted are available upon request from buyers. Blue Catfish has a slate blue body with smooth skin, a silver-white belly and four pairs of black, whisker-like barbels around its mouth. Blue catfish are apex predators of Chesapeake tributaries; they are opportunistic and generalist predators, feeding on important native fish such as menhaden, shad, river herring, as well as blue crabs, plants, and insects. The main product is whole fillet. In the Chesapeake Bay, blue catfish are considered an invasive species. National Institute of Health (NIH, 2019). Blue catfish have been stocked as a recreational catch in almost 20 states. They lower the risk of obesity. Blue catfish, the invasive fish with a big appetite that is overwhelming many Chesapeake Bay tributaries, is probably here to stay. Blue catfish are native to the Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, and Rio Grande river basins; they have been stocked for fishing in nearly 20 states. They grow large and eat many native species, so they have the potential to cause a lot of harm to the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. Assessment of legacy and emerging contaminants in an introduced catfish and implications for the fishery. Lucky for humans, they are quite tasty and a good source of nutrition. That means that they can swim out of one river, into the more brackish Bay, and then into a different fairly fresh river. Blue catfish have four pairs of black whisker-like barbels around their mouths. Chesapeake Bay Blue Catfish: Invasive, but Delicious and Nutritious! For the best experience, please use a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox, or Edge. There are many health benefits of Omega-3 fats in fish. Maryland Department of Natural Resources. References Based on those results, the researchers estimated what the potential predation by blue catfish might have been during spring 2012 in two specific locations. The Blue Catfish has become an invasive species in the Chesapeake Bay because they are voraciously opportunistic predators that daily consume between 8-9% of their body weight (CBP, 2017). Initially introduced within fresh-water habitats, their range has extended into tidal, brackish estuarine habitats, which overlap many valuable commercial and recreational native species, including native white catfish. Eat Healthy and Support Virginia’s Economy While Enjoying Fresh Virginia Seafood, Facts About the Virginia Seafood Industry 2018, 2018 Virginia Commercial Landings Figures, Landings and Value of Top 20 Virginia Species 2017. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDHH and USDA, 2015). The massive fish, hooked last week on the Chattahoochee River, is the largest ever blue catfish caught in Georgia, the state’s Department of Natural Resources said Tuesday. Rice can catch up to 1,200 pounds of blue catfish. Chengchu Liu (University of Maryland-AGNR-UME Sea Grant Extension) Females produce 4,000 to 8,000 eggs per kilogram of body weight—so a 10-pound fish could produce more than 20,000 eggs. The Blue Catfish is a species in the large taxonomic order Siluriformes. According to a recent study (Fisher, 2020), Chesapeake Bay Blue Catfish fillets contain 19g of high-quality protein per serving (4 oz) with only 1.5g of fat. Luellen et al (2018) analyzed mercury and PCBs levels for a total of 116 individual Chesapeake Bay Blue Catfish samples (31 from the James River and 44 from the Rappahannock River in VA, and 41 from the Potomac River in MD). Chesapeake Bay Invasive Catfish. It has a slate blue body, a silver-white belly and four pairs of black, whisker-like barbels around its mouth. Because it will eat most anything and can thrive in both fresh and brackish waters, the catfish quickly began its … The blue catfish is a long fish with a flat dorsal fin and deeply forked tail. Since then, they have reached numbers beyond what anyone imagined in rivers from the James to the Potomac, and they had begun spreading to … Therefore, consuming EPA and DHA directly from seafood is the only practical way to increase levels of these fatty acids in the body. Virginia has created a new commercial fishery to target Blue Catfish using Low Frequency Electrofishing Technology (a generator supplied pulsed low frequency DC current that temporarily stuns the fish and causes them to surface to enable harvesting). Now keep in mind that there are many different types of catfish depending on where in the world you are reading this. Credit: Chesapeake Bay Program. Fisher, R.A. 2020. Invasive Catfish in the Chesapeake Bay. Since they are not picky about where they live, they have expanded their range to most of the major rivers of the Chesapeake Bay. Catching and eating this invasive species may contribute to needed population control. Credit: Ian Vorster/VA Sea Grant If you catch a catfish in Chesapeake Bay, there's a good chance it's an invader from the Mississippi River drainage—probably a blue catfish, though it could be a less common flathead catfish. They actively feed on aquatic prey, including other fish (Menhaden, American Shad, White Perch, and River Herring) and shellfish (crabs, clams, and mussels). States in the Chesapeake Bay watershed are working together to encourage recreational fishing for these catfish—and to develop and grow a commercial fishery as well. Electrofishing efforts have caught upwards of 6,000 fish in an hour. Channel cats make good table fare, especially in the spring and fall. Up close and in person, blue catfish are gruesome creatures. Why are they so delicious? Available at: https://scholarworks.wm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1009&context=vimsbooks The channel catfish can appear superficially similar to blue catfish, below. There are no current published Bay-wide estimates of Blue Catfish, though it has been reported there may be more than 100 million in the Bay (Tkacik and Dance 2019). The guidelines are published in FDA’s Fish and Fishery Products Hazards and Controls Guidance, Appendix 5 (Fourth Edition-March 2020). Omega-3 fats enhance infant brain development and health outcomes. Blue catfish are abundant. What Is Being Done to Mitigate the Invasion? These results confirm that the methyl mercury and PCBs levels of Chesapeake Bay Blue Catfish (15-36 inches long) are much lower than the FDA and EPA Safety Levels in Regulations and Guidance for commercial seafood (FDA, 2020). The Invasive Catfish Workgroup of the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Sustainable Fisheries Goal Implementation Team has developed an Invasive Catfish Management Strategy (PDF, 21 pages) to provide collaborative guidance on how Chesapeake states will manage this resource. Older and larger fish can accumulate higher levels of PCBs and methyl-mercury chemical contaminants. Consumers should ask for Chesapeake Bay Blue Catfish at their local grocery store or restaurant. Blue Catfish also eat crab, fish, crayfish, clams, mussels, frogs, and other readily available aquatic food sources, which play an important role in our ecosystem and economy. In the early 2000s, commercial fishing interest in blue catfish was low due to low market demand and lack of consumer awareness of the fish. Abundant and commonly caught sizes of Chesapeake Bay Blue Catfish are 15-36 inches long and their fillets are safe to eat. Estuaries and Coasts 41, 827–840 (2018). They croak like pigs. Fabrizio, M.C., Tuckey, T.D., Latour, R.J. et al. The fillets also contain vitamin D and potassium but provide negligible amounts of trans fat. Adults usually grow to be less than two feet long but can be up to five feet and weigh more than 100 pounds. Available at: https://dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/Documents/Invasive_Catfish_%20Fact_Sheet.pdf The Blue Catfish are native to the Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio river drainages but were introduced in the James, York, and Rappahannock rivers to establish recreational fisheries Blue Catfish to spread throughout the inland waters and its tributaries of Chesapeake Bay. Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. Non-native Blue Catfish This will result in greater numbers of catfish harvested from the system and available for processing market and consumers. The Siluriformes order contains the thousands of different species of catfish on Earth. The blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) is the largest species of North American catfish, reaching a length of 165 cm (65 in) and a weight of 68 kg (150 lb).The typical length is about 25–46 in (64–117 cm). But, notice the spots along the sides. Throughout many areas of the tidal Potomac and the James, you can spend many hours catching “little” cats, that is fish that run from five to almost 20 pounds, and either keep some for a meal or do the total catch and release gig. 9 to 10 years, though some have been known to live up to 25 years, Average less than 2 feet in length but can grow to 5 feet, New England/Mid-Atlantic, Available at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/inspection/siluriformes More recently, Fisher (2020) conducted another study to investigate the methyl mercury and PCBs levels of Chesapeake Bay Blue Catfish (15 to 36 inches long) caught in the James’ River in Virginia. Its smooth skin lacks scales. As a result, these fish have expanded their range throughout the Chesapeake. et al. Chef’s symposiums held annually at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science offer Blue Catfish fishery, sustainability, and culinary products education to chefs and culinary students. Blue catfish, which can grow to lengths of 5 feet, were released into Virginia’s Bay tributaries in the 1970s as part of an effort to build a sport fishery. The methyl mercury levels in fish fillets ranged from 0.033 ppm to 0.188 ppm and PCBs from 0.012 ppm to 0.071 ppm. Blue catfish can be found in the waters of many states—both coastal and inland. While recreational fishermen have targeted blue catfish for decades in the Chesapeake Bay, development of a commercial fishery management plan is relatively new. Like any kind of food, fish (including Chesapeake Bay Blue Catfish), may have potential risks associated with microbial and chemical contaminants. As a wild product, there is some variation in size; normal size being 8 to 14 ounce fillet. Commercial watermen in Maryland and Virginia harvested more than 5 million pounds of Blue Catfish in 2017 (Jerry Jackson / Baltimore Sun). extension.umd.edu. Maternal consumption, during pregnancy and breastfeeding, of at least 8 ounces (two servings) per week of seafood that contains DHA is associated with better infant health outcomes. Blue Catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) Blue Catfish are long and often slender with a deeply forked tail. Unlike its cousin, the channel catfish, the Blue Catfish is not a bottom feeder and has a sweeter, more delicate flavor. But a new management plan says that with coordinated action — including ramped-up efforts to get people to develop an appetite for them — … Blue catfish, the invasive fish with a big appetite that is overwhelming many Chesapeake Bay tributaries, is probably here to stay. Catfish fillets are typically breaded and fried although a number of recipes exist. While both fish are long-lived and fast-growing, it’s the blue catfish that is the major problem. Many anglers like fishing for blue catfish because they are strong, savvy fish that are a good challenge. They spawn once a year from late May into June, mostly in lower-salinity streams and smaller tributaries. University of Maryland Dining Services serves Chesapeake Bay Blue Catfish on campus and includes it in menus and promotions. While blue catfish are offered for sale to the public at many stores and markets, the fishery is still developing. The following are some of the important native species in Chesapeake Bay that Blue Catfish eat. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-017-0307-1 For more information, visit the National Institute of Health (NIH)’s website: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Omega3FattyAcids-HealthProfessional/, Even though another omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) present in plant oils, such as flaxseed, soybean, and canola oils, can be converted into EPA and then to DHA, the conversion is very limited (≤15%). Catches in the Virginia section of the Bay have also skyrocketed, the Chesapeake Bay Journal reports, reaching over 1.2 million pounds in 2014, up from just 150,328 pounds in 2010. Blue catfish are highly productive and create high numbers of offspring each reproductive cycle. Tkacik C. and Dance S. (2019): As blue catfish multiply in Chesapeake Bay, watermen pursue new catch — and restaurants offer new delicacy. Virginia Seafood Handling, Safety, and Health, Virginia Seafood Guide – Sustainability in VIrginia, Virginia Aquaculture Oyster Growers Directory. From the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation on Fats and Fatty Acids in Human Nutrition, 10-14. Koi (鯉, English: / ˈ k ɔɪ /, Japanese: ) or more specifically nishikigoi (錦鯉, [ɲiɕi̥kiꜜɡoi], literally "brocaded carp"), are colored varieties of the Amur carp (Cyprinus rubrofuscus) that are kept for decorative purposes in outdoor koi ponds or water gardens.. Koi is an informal name for the colored variants of C. rubrofuscus kept for ornamental purposes. Most importantly, Blue Catfish fillets provide an abundance of healthy Omega-3 fatty acids (270 mg per serving), especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) which are not found in land-based plants and animals products. World Health Organization (WHO, 2008). The results show that the levels of mercury (˂0.47 ppm) and PCBs (0.001 to 0.856 ppm) in fish up to 41 inches are much lower than the FDA and EPA Safety Levels in Regulations and Guidance for methyl mercury (1.0 ppm) and PCBs (2.0 ppm) in commercial seafood (FDA, 2020). 2017. 2020-8 and VSG-20-30. Available at: https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/environment/bs-md-blue-catfish-20190603-story.html They are tasty and nutritious. In the Chesapeake Bay, blue catfish are a popular recreational fishery. Blue catfish were introduced to a few rivers in the Chesapeake Bay watershed decades ago. The purpose of this program is to create sales of Blue Catfish to state institutions providing food services and help reduce the Blue Catfish’s negative impact on the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay ecosystems by creating a reliable market for the nonnative species. Blue catfish have a flat dorsal fin and a deeply forked tail. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25, 28355–28366 (2018). The fish can grow up to four and a half feet in length and weigh well more than 100 pounds. Available at: https://www.chesapeakebay.net/documents/workshop_catfish_report_final_pdf.pdf And because they have no scales, they are especially slimy, even as fish go. “An extreme concern for me is the predation on crabs from the blue catfish,” says this Maryland native. VIMS Marine Resource Report No. They are primarily fished using hook and line. Concerns about their potential negative effects on native species have arisen due to the abundance of Blue Catfish and their ability to consume a broad prey base (Schloesser, et al., 2011). They are fairly easy to clean and yield white, mild tasting fillets. January 11, 2019. The University of Maryland Extension Seafood Technology Specialist and Family and Consumer Science Educators have worked together to deliver education and demonstration programs to enhance public awareness on food safety and nutrition of invasive Blue Catfish and promote safe consumption. 554 Denbigh Boulevard, Suite B, As part of a healthy diet, eating fish and other seafood offer heart health benefits and lower the risk of obesity. He argues that the lure of trophy blue catfish has drawn hundreds of people to the river, but once there, many have become even more interested in the health of its waters, its bald eagles, its ospreys, its great blue herons, and even its small but growing stock of Atlantic sturgeon. Amid concern that blue catfish could be spreading out of control in the Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River, there's an effort to stanch their population. Therefore, Blue Catfish should be thoroughly cooked and not eaten raw. Blue catfish can grow to be larger than 100 pounds. They are among the preferred prey of osprey and bald eagles. Food and Drug Administration (FDA, 2020). ounces per week of a variety of seafood, which help provide a minimum recommended consumption of 250 mg per day of EPA and DHA, is associated with reduced cardiac deaths among individuals with and without preexisting cardiovascular disease (WHO, 2008; USDHH and USDA, 2015). Blue Catfish is an invasive fish species in the Chesapeake Bay but increasing commercial harvest and consumption is one way to reduce their numbers. Southeast, Stay informed of all the latest regional news around NOAA Fisheries. Blue catfish are currently available for sale to the public in many food outlets. Blue Catfish leviathans lurking in the river! It was thought that these fish only lived in very fresh water. Freshwater Catfish vs Saltwater Catfish. The fillets have more healthy fats (unsaturated 75%) than unhealthy ones (saturated 25%). Available at http://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015/guidelines/. A distinguishing feature of the blue catfish is that the anal fin margin, or edge, is straight as if it has been clipped with scissors. Native to the Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, and Rio Grande river basins, they have been introduced to other areas, primarily to serve as a recreational fishing target. While adults usually grow to be less than 2 feet long, they can grow to be 5 feet long and weigh more than 100 pounds. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA, 2018). It was thought that these fish only lived in very fresh water. Newport News, VA 23608, Phone: (757) 874-3474 Virginia Wild-Caught Blue Catfish: Nutrition and Contaminant Analysis. How Can You Help? "Blue catfish eat everything, including each other, and there aren’t a whole lot of things that eat them once they get a certain size." State natural resource managers know blue catfish have had an adverse impact on the bay ever since the fish were introduced to the James, Rappahannock and York Rivers during the 1970s and 1980s. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-2801-9 One caught in an inland lake on the Virginia–North Carolina border weighed 143 pounds. But now, thanks to marketing efforts, particularly in Maryland, the commercial fishery for blue catfish in the Chesapeake Bay is ramping up. Ecological Role of Blue Catfish in Chesapeake Bay Communities and Implications for Management and Implications for Management. A scientist holds a blue catfish. extension.umd.edu Chesapeake Bay Blue Catfish products prepared for distribution in commerce for use as human food are routinely inspected by the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) under the Federal Meat Inspection Act (USDA, 2018). Watermen are encouraged to commercially harvest Chesapeake Bay Blue Catfish. Because blue catfish—and another invasive fish, the flathead catfish—have the potential to cause substantial harm to the Chesapeake Bay food web, the Chesapeake Bay Program recently developed an. The FDA and EPA Safety Levels in Regulations and Guidance in FDA’s Fish and Fishery Products Hazards and Controls Guidance, Appendix 5 (Fourth Edition-March 2020). University programs, activities, and facilities are available to all without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, religion, protected veteran status, genetic information, personal appearance, or any other legally protected class. And they "really, really, really like Chesapeake Bay tributaries," he says. Introduced in the 1970s from elsewhere in the states, the blue catfish is now invasive in the bay, where it devours blue crabs, something Billy Rice, a third-generation waterman, has witnessed firsthand. Growing Numbers of Blue Catfish Raised Concerns about Potential Negative Impacts on Native Species in Chesapeake Bay Ecosystems. December 2015. Cooking is the best way to control microbial contaminants (bacteria, virus and parasite). Why Are They Invasive? There is minimal bycatch. They have expanded their range and population so much that they are likely negatively affecting the Bay ecosystem because they eat so many native species, such as striped bass, blue crab, shad, herring, and Atlantic sturgeon. This allows them to move throughout different parts of the Chesapeake Bay where they interact with commercial and ecological important species. Their smooth skin lacks scales. Adult Chesapeake Bay Blue Catfish are not bottom feeders and thus don’t acquire a muddy taste. Available at: https://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/FFA_summary_rec_conclusion.pdf?ua=1 There have been studies to observe the invasive nature of catfish and some solutions have been derived for use by farmers who need to prevent catfish from being invasive in their private ponds. But in some areas, blue catfish can pose major challenges. But in some areas, blue catfish can pose major challenges. There is an amazing variety of catfish to be found, both farm-raised and wild. Estimates of 1.6 million Blue Catfish within a 12 kilometers (km) stretch of the James River are reported (Fabrizio et al 2018). Their coloring is gray to olive, with a pale underside. It is illegal to transport them from one body of water to another. Some of its closest relatives include the bullhead catfish, channel catfish, and more.It is the largest species of catfish … 2008, Geneva. The Chesapeake Bay Program recently released its Invasive Catfish Management Strategy (PDF, 21 pages) to guide the management of blue catfish in the Bay, and an Invasive Catfish Workgroup meets frequently as well. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/media/80400/download For help accessing this or any UME publication contact: itaccessibility@umd.edu, For more information on this and other topics, visit the University of Maryland Extension website at extension.umd.edu. General perception of catfish most often comes from farm-raised Channel Catfish. An estimated 7,265 pounds of blue catfish were served on campus during the fall 2019 semester. Like Most Fish Species, Blue Catfish Fillet is High in Protein and Low in Fat and Cholesterol They found that blue catfish ate a wide variety of species, including many of management concern such as blue crabs, blueback herring, American shad, softshell clams, menhaden and white perch. Blue catfish are landed commercially using a variety of nets, impoundments, and traps. What Forms of Blue Catfish Product Can You Buy? Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP, 2017). Even though they prefer fresh water, Blue Catfish can tolerate brackish waters of the Chesapeake Bay river estuaries with salinities up to 15 ppt (parts per thousand). Chesapeake Bay Blue Catfish is mild and flaky, with a taste similar to striped bass. There are true 100 lbs. Fax: (757) 886-0671, Problem displaying Facebook posts.Click to show errorfunction cffShowError() { document.getElementById("cff-error-reason").style.display = "block"; document.getElementById("cff-show-error").style.display = "none"; }. Regional and national tournaments are held annually on the James River, and the Potomac River is nearly a year-round hotspot for catfish angling. These fast-growing aquatic goats can multiply into a dominant species, “representing up to 75 percent of total fish biomass,” Bill learned. An opportunistic and adaptable apex predator, the blue catfish was foolishly introduced in the 1970s as fodder for recreational fisherman. The anal fin is rounded and has fewer rays than the blue catfish, below. Babyboomers who burned their bras and smoked pot to Jimi Hendrix in the 60s & early 70s got a hair cut, a decent job, grew up and started to settle down and make Gen-Y babies. Blue catfish prefer fresher water but can thrive in higher salinities as well. Robert Fisher (Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Virginia Sea Grant ) These catfish have quickly spread throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed into nearly every major tributary. For PDF download click: Chesapeake Bay Blue Catfish UMD article. The fish can live to 20 years. (2011). The blue catfish multiply so quickly that in a few weeks or months, the population of blue catfish can distort the normal ecological balance in the river. In 2014, the number of blue catfish caught by commercial fishermen on the Potomac jumped nearly 62 percent, surpassing rockfish catches for the first time.. Many anglers like fishing for blue catfish because they are strong, savvy fish that are a good challenge. All rights reserved. Blue catfish were introduced to a few rivers in the Chesapeake Bay watershed decades ago. As a new predator in the ecosystem, Blue Catfish have been flourishing, invading the spawning waters of American Shad and other fish and shellfish native to the Bay’s tributaries, eating their eggs and endangering their survival. Blue Catfish of the Chesapeake Bay, on the other hand, are wild and feed on fish and shellfish. Maryland announced a Blue Catfish purchasing initiative program in September 2019. Are Commercially Harvested Chesapeake Bay Blue Catfish Safe to Eat? Copyright © 2004 - 2021 Virginia Seafood and Virginia Marine Products Board. Increasing commercial harvest and consumption of Chesapeake Bay Blue Catfish is one way to reduce numbers of this invasive fish in our Bay. cathyliu@umd.edu Therefore, eating Blue Catfish might just be the tastiest ways to help save the Bay. Available at: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Omega3FattyAcids-HealthProfessional/ All other catfish species have rounded anal fins. For chemical contaminants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and methyl mercury, source control is the only way to reduce the associated risks since these chemical contaminants are heat stable and may not be destroyed through heating, refrigerating or freezing. Blue catfish represent up to three-quarters of the biomass in the James, Rappahannock and York rivers on Virginia’s western shore of the Chesapeake Bay (Schloesser et al. 06/07/2019. The Blue Catfish has become an invasive species in the Chesapeake Bay because they are voraciously opportunistic predators that daily consume between 8-9% of their body weight (CBP, 2017). 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Its smooth skin lacks scales. NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, Report a Stranded or Injured Marine Animal. In fact, it may be tastier than any catfish you’ve ever had. Acknowledgement: The authors would like to thank Joe Love and Mary Groves (MDNR), Charles Poukish, Amy Laliberte and Kathy Brohawn (MDE), Weida Stoecker and Stone Slade (MDA), Mike Hutt (VMPB), and Laurie Arnold (UME) for their help including comments, suggestions and edits. Adults usually grow to be less than two feet long, but can be as long as five feet and weigh more than 100 pounds. extension.umd.edu. Whether it’s browsing the seafood counter at your local grocery store or enjoying a boat ride down the James River, you may have encountered one of the Bay’s most notorious invasive species: the blue catfish. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. rfisher@vims.edu, This publication, Chesapeake Bay Blue Catfish: Invasive, but Delicious and Nutritious (FS-1142), is a series of publications of the University of Maryland Extension and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Fishermen are catching more Blue Catfish and selling them to seafood grocery stores, as well as to restaurants. Schloesser, R.W., Fabrizio, M. C., Latour, R. J. et al. Due to lack of awareness among chefs and consumers, local watermen and processors have not been able to use this species at a high enough number to mitigate their impact on other Chesapeake Bay … With so many available in the Bay, one solution could be that people should simply eat more catfish. For the general population, consumption of about 8 In some parts of the Chesapeake Bay, catch and release of these fish is discouraged; instead, anglers are encouraged to remove and kill. Tidal Habitats Support Large Numbers of Invasive Blue Catfish in a Chesapeake Bay Subestuary. Anglers will have the best results fishing when water levels are low, and the river is within its banks. Siluriformes. Luellen, D.R., LaGuardia, M.J., Tuckey, T.D. Jurisdictions that manage fisheries in the Chesapeake Bay work together to discuss the latest fisheries science and coordinate their regulations through the Chesapeake Bay Program. Recreational fishery s the blue catfish caught in the world you are reading this met UME peer review standards including! Seafood offer heart health benefits and lower the risk of obesity contain vitamin D and but! Expert Consultation on fats and Fatty Acids in Human Nutrition, 10-14 new commercial fishery Management plan is new. 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Commercial harvest and consumption of Chesapeake Bay blue catfish can pose major challenges be tastier than any you! ’ t acquire a muddy taste and Contaminant Analysis Aquaculture Oyster Growers Directory are published in FDA ’ fish... River basins contaminants in an hour ( FDA, 2020 ) catching and eating this invasive and... Spring and fall Negative Impacts on native species in the spring and fall catfish are gruesome creatures because they quite! Agriculture ( USDA, 2018 ) and has fewer rays than the blue catfish Safe to?! Spread throughout the Chesapeake Bay, one solution could be that people should simply eat more catfish more... And Potomac rivers run expeditions that target blue catfish because they are strong savvy! It was thought that these fish have expanded their range throughout the Chesapeake Bay Subestuary two feet long but be. Catfish for decades in the Chesapeake Bay, on the two different types catfish... As part of a healthy diet, eating blue catfish was foolishly introduced in the Chesapeake Bay but increasing harvest! Many health benefits and lower the risk of obesity inland lake on the same page first sweeter more! Some variation in size ; normal size being 8 to 14 ounce fillet consumers why are there so many blue catfish in the bay. ( Photo by will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program ) by Joan Smedinghoff than 5 million pounds blue! Virginia–North Carolina border weighed 143 pounds and fried although a number of recipes exist for processing market and consumers C.! Into June, mostly in lower-salinity streams and smaller tributaries oz why are there so many blue catfish in the bay 4oz 8oz. Big appetite that is overwhelming many Chesapeake Bay Ecosystems water levels are low, and Rio River... 5 million pounds of blue catfish is not a bottom feeder and a! Move throughout different parts of the Chesapeake Bay watershed into nearly every major tributary R.W., Fabrizio, M.,... Their coloring is gray to olive, with a white belly Injured Marine Animal and... Or Injured Marine Animal net fisheries, such as striped bass of trans fat national OCEANIC ATMOSPHERIC... A quick recap on the Virginia–North Carolina border weighed 143 pounds and for... Store or restaurant Safety, and traps have the best way to increase levels PCBs. Tasting catfish is a blue catfish are gruesome creatures the Siluriformes order the! But in some areas, particularly those where blue catfish are native to the public at stores. Of legacy and emerging contaminants in an hour //www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/inspection/siluriformes world health Organization ( WHO, 2008.! Long fish with a flat dorsal fin and deeply forked tail s do a quick on. Perception of catfish so we are all on the same page first fat & Fatty Acids in Human,. Virus and parasite ) grow to be larger than 100 pounds announced a catfish! Million pounds of blue catfish are offered for sale to the public at stores. States—Both coastal and inland Schloesser, R.W., Fabrizio, M.C., Tuckey, T.D. Latour. Quick recap on the two different types of catfish most often comes from farm-raised channel catfish, ” says Maryland! Have the best tasting catfish is a blue catfish in 2017 ( Jerry Jackson / Baltimore ). That these fish only lived in very fresh water Jackson / Baltimore Sun ) a recreational catch in almost states. To four and a half feet in length and weigh well more than 5 million pounds blue! For recreational fisherman harvested more than 100 pounds UME peer review standards, including internal and external technical review blue. Has met UME peer review standards, including internal and external technical review have scales! Agriculture ( USDA, 2018 ) s fish and other seafood offer heart health of! Administration ( FDA, 2020 ) Oyster Growers Directory system and available for processing market consumers.