The delicious invasive species is exploding in the Chesapeake Bay region, and Maryland officials are encouraging people to add it to their diets.
Blue catfish have become a serious problem in Maryland waters, Gulf.com reports. This species was once thought to be a freshwater fish only, but it has proven to be adaptable enough to survive in saltwater.
The fish was introduced to Virginia’s river systems in the 1970s for recreational fishing and to increase food supplies. However, by 2000, they were present in the Chesapeake Bay, Patuxent River, and Potomac River.
The publication estimates that 4.7 million blue catfish will be caught in the area in 2024.
Blue catfish prey on blue crabs, American eels, white bass and just about anything they can swallow, reminiscent of other voracious invasive species such as the American bullfrog. This harms native ecosystems in rivers and bays, depleting resources and driving out native species.
A 2025 study found that blue catfish consume thousands of pounds of blue crabs each year and hunt blue crabs year-round. They also eat juvenile crabs that have not yet reproduced, further limiting crab populations.
Blue crabs are a staple in Maryland, with more than one-third of the country’s blue crab supply coming from the Chesapeake Bay. Fishermen depend on them for their livelihood; people depend on them as a source of food; countries depend on them as cultural symbols.
Many other species in these bodies of water also prey on crabs. When blue catfish hoard them, other species suffer food shortages.
But there is a silver lining. Since this species overruns rivers and bays, people are strongly encouraged to buy or catch them and eat them.
Both commercial and recreational fishermen can (possibly and soon by law) go all out fishing for catfish. This also means fried catfish and other catfish dishes should be on everyone’s menu.
Branson Williams, freshwater biologist and invasive fish program manager for the Department of Natural Resources, told GulfNet, “We’re lucky that blue catfish taste great… They’re a mild, white-fleshed fish and there’s definitely a market for them.”
Invasive species are destructive and must be mitigated. Thankfully, controlling this species means there are plenty of fish for everyone, while also helping local economies and ecosystems.
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