A fish some might think of as little more than a nuisance in the U.S. states of Maryland and Virginia has now received top marks from the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
The aquarium’s Seafood Watch program has given a green seafood recommendation to the Chesapeake Bay’s blue catfish. Until now, the fish was regarded as an invasive species that threatens the environmental health of the region, but the recommendation labels it a “best choice” in seafood.
The decision marks the first time ever the program has given such a rating to an invasive species fish, according to the Wide Net Project (WNP), a partner organization that works to feed the hungry and is building a market for the blue catfish.
“Achieving a green rating is significant for the Bay region in that it can help spur purchasing of the fish, fueling economic development and the removal of more fish from the water,” WNP said in a statement.
