It is illegal to transport live blue and flathead catfish between water bodies in all Chesapeake Bay … Increasing commercial harvest and consumption is one way to reduce their numbers in our Bay. A recent study from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science found that blue catfish can tolerate higher salinities than previously thought, meaning this invasive species has the potential to expand into mainstem Chesapeake waters, surrounding tributaries, and even the Delaware Bay. Since their introduction, their range and population have increased dramatically. The largest caught in Virginia was 102 pounds and was caught in the James River in 2009. They have a sweeter, flaky flesh thanks to their rich Chesapeake Bay diet and do not develop the “muddy” flavor associated with common catfish. Edible DC. Initially introduced for sportfishing in several Virginia tributaries, blue and flathead catfish are considered invasive in the Chesapeake Bay. The species were introduced to the upper James River by the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries in the 70s, and over time they've not only exploded in population but also proved to be significant predators when it comes to blueback herring, blue crabs, and menhaden. While both fish are long-lived and fast-growing, it’s the blue catfish that is the major problem. Blue Catfish were introduced to tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay in the 1970s and 1980s to establish new fisheries, but their presence h... How to avoid getting duped by online catfish tales Once every couple months while scrolling through my Facebook feed, I'm inspired to put on my detective cap. Blue catfish is a newcomer to Washington stores and restaurants, it’s sustainably caught in the Chesapeake Bay, and it’s probably tastier than any catfish you’ve ever had. Many consider the James River to be the best river on earth to catch blue catfish over 50 lbs. Blue catfish were introduced to the Bay in the 1970’s to support sport fishing, when thousands of the Mississippi River natives were brought into the Rappahannock and James Rivers. 1 on the Potomac River, an air-breathing, snaggletoothed invasive species that walked on land, dined on small reptiles and, in its way, plotted revolution on the Chesapeake Bay. In 2018 there was an estimated 500 million pounds of blue catfish in the bay. Date Posted: 2017-06-14 Source: The Washington Post. Recently, this Workgroup approved an Invasive Catfish Management Strategy (PDF, 21 pages) to guide efforts around the Bay to manage invasive catfish. August 31, 2020 Chesapeake Bay Blue Catfish: Invasive, but Delicious and Nutritious!. Giant blue catfish swarm the tidal rivers off the Chesapeake Bay, and tempting anglers across the Mid-Atlantic region. More than a decade ago, the northern snakehead was Public Enemy No. Blue catfish, the invasive fish with a big appetite that is overwhelming many Chesapeake Bay tributaries, is probably here to stay. Striped bass, bull reds, swordfish, largemouth and smallmouth bass, and numerous other species will be doing their best to fatten up for winter this month, giving anglers a number of possibilities to pick and choose from. If harvests are any indication, the people of the Chesapeake are developing a taste for the ecological threat: The 400,000 pounds of blue catfish extracted from the bay … Chesapeake Bay Magazine. Chesapeake Blue Catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) are a different species than the more common channel catfish grown in the Southern States. The blue catfish thrives in freshwater, in the Chesapeake Bay’s major Southern tributaries, but can also live in brackish, tidal waters. But a new management plan says that with coordinated action — including ramped-up efforts to get people to develop an appetite for them — … Unlike its cousin, the channel catfish, the Blue Catfish is not a … In this case study, we focus on Blue Catfish Ictalurus furcatus which were introduced in the Chesapeake Bay region and are now considered invasive. 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 is an invasive fish species in the Chesapeake Bay. In my opinion the best tasting catfish is the Blue Catfish which is running wild, literally, in the Chesapeake Bay. Atlas Obscura. Blue and flathead catfish are now top predators in several river … Continued Invasives 101: How eating things that aren’t from here could be a boon for the bay . Salt Tolerant Invasive Fish Poised to Expand in Bay . Blue catfish represent between half and three-quarters of the biomass in the James, Rappahannock and York rivers on Virginia’s western shore of the Chesapeake… For PDF download click: Chesapeake Bay Blue Catfish UMD article Chesapeake Bay Blue Catfish: Invasive, but Delicious and Nutritious! The Bay Journal has a fascinating article on blue catfish and the threat they bring to the Chesapeake. The NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office (NCBO) and other Chesapeake Bay organizations identified invasive catfish as a challenge facing the Chesapeake ecosystem several years ago. There is an amazing variety of catfish to be found, both farm-raised and wild. This species is native to the Chesapeake region and can be found in ponds, lakes, streams and rivers throughout the Bay watershed. 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