Blue Catfish

Blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) are an invasive, non-native species in the Chesapeake Bay. They were introduced to Virginia's freshwater tributaries to enhance recreational fishing in the 1970s and the population has continued to grow. Blue catfish consume variety of prey items, including valuable and ecologically significant species in the Chesapeake Bay such as menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus), shad and herring (Alosa spp.), and blue crab (Callinectes sapidus).

Blue catfish have become a growing management concern due to their large size, longevity, and ability to expand to non-freshwater habitats. An adult blue catfish can grow larger than 100 pounds and typically live 9-10 years. Both a commercial and recreational fishery for blue catfish exist in Virginia. The recreational fishery is primarily a hook-and-line fishery and managed by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. The commercial fishery utilizes multiple gears such as gill nets, fish pots/traps, pound nets, and trot lines and is managed by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission.

Efforts to expand exploitation in the commercial fishery have been underway to reduce the population of blue catfish in the Chesapeake Bay. Growth in the commercial fishery tends to be limited by market conditions and available processing capacity.