‘We are fortunate to [they] taste good’

A population of the tasty invasive species has exploded in the Chesapeake Bay area, and Maryland officials are urging people to add it to their diet.

According to The BayNet, blue catfish have become a serious problem in Maryland waters. Once thought to be only a freshwater fish, the species has proven to be resilient enough to survive in saltwater as well.

The fish were introduced to Virginia’s river systems in the 1970s for recreational fishing and to increase the food supply. However, until the year 2000, they were present in the Chesapeake Bay and in the Patuxent and Potomac Rivers.

In 2024, about 4.7 million blue catfish were harvested from the area, according to the publication.

Blue catfish prey on blue crabs, American eels, white perch, and almost anything else they can swallow, reminiscent of other invasive ravenous species, such as American bullfrogs. This damages native river and beach ecosystems, depleting resources and driving out local species.

A 2025 study found that blue catfish consume thousands of pounds of blue crabs each year, hunting them year-round. They also eat young crabs that have yet to reproduce, further restricting crab populations.

Blue crabs are a staple food in Maryland, and more than a third of the country’s blue crab supply comes from the Chesapeake Bay. Fishermen depend on them for their livelihood; people depend on them as a source of food; the state depends on them as a cultural symbol.

Many other species in these water bodies also prey on crabs. When the blue catfish cherish them, other species suffer from a lack of food.

But there is a silver lining. Since the species is crossing the rivers and the beach, people are strongly encouraged to buy or catch them, and eat them.

Both commercial and recreational fishermen can, potentially by law soon, do anything to catch them. It also means fried catfish and other catfish dishes should be on everyone’s menu.

Branson Williams, invasive fish program manager and freshwater biologist with the Department of Natural Resources, told The BayNet, “We’re fortunate that blue catfish taste good. … They’re a light, white-fleshed fish, and there’s definitely a market for them.”

Invasive species are destructive and must be mitigated. Fortunately, controlling this species means lots of fish for everyone, which helps the local economy and ecosystems at the same time.

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