The U.S. state of Maryland will provide USD 1.9 million (EUR 1.6 million) in funding to local food banks that they can then use to purchase invasive blue catfish fillets.
Funding for the program was provided through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service and will provide for the purchase of roughly 283,000 pounds of fish fillets.
“This initiative will help feed our neighbors in need, support seafood processors and watermen, and help remove this non-native but tasty species from the Chesapeake and its tributaries,” Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Kevin Atticks said in a release. “We are thrilled to once again partner with USDA on this initiative as an important tool in addressing hunger and supporting our rural maritime communities.”
The invasive blue catfish has plagued the Chesapeake Bay watershed since the 1960s, outcompeting native fish. State and federal government officials and lawmakers have worked to encourage fishers and processors to catch and sell more catfish in a coordinated effort to remove the species.
In August, USDA announced USD 6 million (EUR 5.2 million) in grant funding to grow the region’s catfish-processing capacity, along with a one-year pilot program with funding to buy catfish for local food banks. Now, the Maryland government has announced the grant awards to three food banks: USD 1.38 million (EUR 1.19 million) for the Maryland Food Bank, USD 499,693 (EUR 431,505) for the Capital Area Food Bank, and USD 53,617 (EUR 46,300) for the Western Maryland Food Bank.
“Blue catfish is a win-win for the Maryland Food Bank; we are supporting local businesses and helping to combat an invasive species in the bay while also providing a nutritious source of protein to neighbors facing food insecurity,” Maryland Food Bank CEO Meg Kimmel said in a release. “We are excited to continue our strong partnership with the Maryland Department of Agriculture.”
In a release, U.S. Representative Andy Harris (R-Maryland) praised the state and federal governments for working together on the pilot program.
“I applaud the Maryland Department of Agriculture and the USDA for this important partnership to help Maryland families and our local businesses,” Harris said. “Through these efforts, food banks are now supplied with wild-caught Chesapeake blue catfish, turning an environmental challenge into a resource that strengthens our seafood industry and supports Maryland families in need.”
