A growing problem

The glorious Chesapeake Bay has been overrun by the highly invasive wild blue catfish, putting one of the most iconic American waterways at risk.

Introduced in the 1970s, the blue catfish is an adaptive fish that has proliferated throughout the entire estuary system of the Chesapeake Bay and it’s rivers. Besides competing with indigenous species for food, this particular catfish has a voracious appetite and is ruining juvenile native species before they have a fighting chance. 

The watermen of the Chesapeake have become so concerned that they are collaborating on establishing what can be seen as one of our most important domestic restorative commercial fisheries to date. These dedicated fishermen are targeting the blue cats in an effort to curb their population and give some much needed breathing room to other highly valued natives.

Chesapeake blue catfish present a flaky pearly white flesh and is not “muddy” tasting like farmed catfish can be. This is simply due to its diet of shellfish and other prized Chesapeake fish. Chefs in the area have been embracing this fishery as not only a way to do good for the environment and the watermen, but also because it tastes incredibly good! Throughout the DC and Baltimore areas, diners will see blue catfish on menus in all types of restaurants and fish markets. From upscale to casual, it is a crowd pleasing fish.