‘We’re fortunate that [they] taste good’

The population of a tasty invasive species has exploded in the Chesapeake Bay region, and Maryland officials are encouraging people to add it to their diets.

According to BayNetBlue catfish have become a serious problem in Maryland waters. The species, once believed to be an exclusively freshwater fish, has proven to be hardy enough to survive in saltwater as well.

The fish was introduced to Virginia’s river systems in the 1970s for recreational fishing and to increase food supply. But by 2000, it was present in the Chesapeake Bay and the Patuxent and Potomac Rivers.

An estimated 4.7 million blue catfish were harvested from the region in 2024, according to the publication.

Blue catfish prey on blue crabs, American eels, white perch, and just about anything they can swallow, reminiscent of other voracious invasive species such as American bullfrogs. This damages the natural ecosystems of the rivers and the bay, depleting resources and destroying native species.

A study conducted in 2025 found Blue catfish consume thousands of pounds of blue crabs each year and hunt them throughout the year. They also eat baby crabs that have not yet reproduced, further restricting the crab population.

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

Many other species in these bodies of water also prey on crabs. Other species suffer from food shortages when blue catfish hoard them.

But there is a silver lining. Because the species invades rivers and the bay, people are strongly encouraged to buy or catch and eat them.

Both commercial and recreational fishermen will be doing whatever they can to catch themselves, potentially soon by law. This also means that fried catfish and other catfish dishes should be on everyone’s menu.

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

Invasive species are destructive and need to be mitigated. Fortunately, controlling this species means plenty of fish for everyone, while also contributing to the local economy and ecosystems.

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