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Marine Advisory Program

Research

Since blue catfish are a widespread issue throughout the Chesapeake Bay, our research aims to be collaborative with commercial and recreational industry members, institutions, state and federal agencies, and non-governmental organizations. 

Here are some of the most recent research projects focused on blue catfish.

Virginia Watermen's Survey 

Expanding exploitation of blue catfish is one option to reduce the population of this harmful invasive species. A survey was sent to 800 Virginia watermen to evaluate the impact of ex-vessel price (the price given to watermen) on fishing days for blue catfish, as well as understand participation and perceptions regarding the fishery. The resulting publication is available to read online. 

Key Findings

  • Fishing effort increases significantly with an increase in ex-vessel price, regardless of how variable the price is.
  • Limited availability of buyers was a top concern of commercial watermen, along with ex-vessel price. 
  • Blue catfish offers an opportunity for watermen to diversify and may provide ecological benefits.

Check out the interactive "Profit Model" that allows you to enter expenditures and fishing days for blue catfish to determine potential profits with different gears. Cost information was obtained from responses to the Virginia Watermen’s Survey while gear-specific catch information was provided by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission. 

Market Development 

Enhancing the market for blue catfish and consumer knowledge will be needed in order to grow the fishery. Interviews with seafood processors and a large online survey of seafood consumers in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast US were used to understand factors influencing demand for wild-caught blue catfish. In the online seafood consumer survey, respondents were given the option to choose between various seafood products given different price levels, harvest locations, and background information. The full publication is available online.

Key Findings

  • Consumer awareness and product familiarity will be essential to expanding the wild-caught blue catfish fishery. 
  • Seafood processors noted concerns of labor availability and the cost required to process wild-caught blue catfish.
  • The online survey indicated that only 1/3 of respondents had consumed wild-caught blue catfish and another 1/3 would be willing to try it.

Biology and Population Dynamics

Recent studies have investigated the population size of blue catfish in a Virginia tributary, as well as predation impacts and the ability of the species to expand in the Chesapeake Bay. 

Hilling, C.D., Y. Jiao, J.D. Schmitt, M.C. Fabrizio, P.L. Angermeier, and D.J. Orth. 2025. Management strategy evaluation to assess trade-offs associated with invasive Blue Catfish fisheries and predation impacts. Marine and Coastal Fisheries 17(1). 

Nepal, V., M.C. Fabrizio, R. Lavaud, and J. van der Meer. 2024. Bioenergetic strategies contributing to the invasion success of blue catfish. Ecological Modelling 496, 110830. 

Hilling, C.D., Y. Jiao, M.C. Fabrizio, P.L. Angermeier, A.J. Bunch, and D.J. Orth. 2022. A size-based stock assessment model for invasive blue catfish in a Chesapeake Bay sub-estuary during 2001–2016. Fisheries Management and Ecology 30(1): 70-88. 

Nepal, V., M. Dillon, M.C. Fabrizio, and T.D. Tuckey. 2024. Physiologically-informed predictions of climate warming effects on native and non-native populations of blue catfish. Journal of Thermal Biology 124, 103951.