Lawmakers in the U.S. state of Virginia have introduced a bill to eliminate restrictions on harvesting of blue catfish, an invasive species that has devastated ecosystems in the Chesapeake Bay region.
Since their introduction to the Chesapeake Bay as a recreational fish in the late 1960s, predatory blue catfish have come to dominate waters in Virginia and neighboring Maryland.
“We are beginning to see disturbing trends in both our commercial fishery landings and our survey data,” Maryland Governor Wes Moore explained in a letter seeking federal assistance in 2023. “Since 2012, landings of seven of Maryland’s marquee commercial fishery species which share habitat with invasive fishes at some point in their life cycle have declined between 27 percent and 91 percent.”
The U.S. Department of Commerce ultimately denied Moore’s request for a fisher disaster determination, claiming the fish have not had a big enough impact on the state’s commercial fisheries.
Governments in both Virginia and Maryland have tried to encourage blue catfish harvesting to help reduce the population. In Virginia, the governor has been given dedicated funds to expand the state’s capacity for processing blue catfish.
"By encouraging the harvest of these invasive predators, we can not only protect our native fish but also provide Virginians with a delicious and sustainable seafood option,” Virginia State Delegate Hillary Pugh Kent (R-Warsaw) said.
Virginia State Delegate Shelly Simonds (D-Newport News) has introduced legislation that would remove a one-fish per day limit on catfish longer than 32 inches in the tidal waters of the James, Rappahannock, and York Rivers, bringing those areas into compliance with Maryland state regulations.
"Blue catfish threaten the delicate balance of wildlife in our rivers but they’re also delicious. This bill is a crucial step towards getting them under control and ensuring the long-term health of our rivers and streams,” Simonds said.
The legislation has been endorsed by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, a regional conservation group.
“Removing this cap on the blue catfish harvest is another step in the right direction to help mitigate the threat of this invasive species and safeguard the long-term health of the Bay and the livelihoods that depend on it," Chesapeake Bay Foundation Virginia Executive Director Chris Moore said.
