Blue Catfish | Invasive Species We Study
Blue Catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) is native to the lower and middle Mississippi River and its tributaries and to the Rio Grande River. Many states outside of the native range stocked Blue Catfish to provide angling opportunities and to meet other fishery management objectives as early as the early 1900s. In the Chesapeake Bay watershed and in some eastern seaboard states, Blue Catfish is an invasive species that has negatively affected native American Shad, Hickory Shad, Blueback Herring, and Alewife populations. However, Blue Catfish also support commercial and recreational fisheries, which creates challenges to management to balance the needs of the native fishery and local economies.
Invasive Blue Catfish in the Chesapeake Bay
Partners of the Chesapeake Bay are investing billions in restoring critical habitats to enhance conditions for people and wildlife. However, the rise of invasive blue catfish in the Bay's major rivers may hinder these efforts and limit ecosystem improvements. The USGS can address this challenge by collaborating with resource managers, academics, and stakeholders.
Population Monitoring and Removal Strategies for Blue Catfish in Chesapeake Bay
USGS is helping with the design of a population survey and developing mathematical models to assess potential activities to manage the population of invasive blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) in the Chesapeake Bay. This research will help managers determine the cost and feasibility of approaches to control this invasive species.
Blue catfish is an invasive species in the Chesapeake Bay area that negatively affect native shad populations and fisheries. Blue catfish also supports a prized trophy fishery in some rivers and a small but regionally valuable commercial fishery. This creates a challenge for balancing these differing interests. The USGS can help respond to this management challenge in the Nation’s largest estuary by leveraging its leadership and technical capabilities to work with resource managers, academics, and other interested parties. The USGS provides tools needed to predict where invasive species establish and where further spread may occur to assist managers in fighting invasions that have annual estimated economic and health-related costs in the United States reported at more than $21 billion.
Population Monitoring and Removal Strategies for Blue Catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) in Chesapeake Bay
Invasive Blue Catfish Science to Support Conservation and Fisheries Management
Establishing Molecular Methods to Quantitatively Profile Stomach Diet Items of Fish—Application to the Invasive Blue Catfish (Ictalurus furcatus)
Blue Catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) is native to the lower and middle Mississippi River and its tributaries and to the Rio Grande River. Many states outside of the native range stocked Blue Catfish to provide angling opportunities and to meet other fishery management objectives as early as the early 1900s. In the Chesapeake Bay watershed and in some eastern seaboard states, Blue Catfish is an invasive species that has negatively affected native American Shad, Hickory Shad, Blueback Herring, and Alewife populations. However, Blue Catfish also support commercial and recreational fisheries, which creates challenges to management to balance the needs of the native fishery and local economies.
Invasive Blue Catfish in the Chesapeake Bay
Partners of the Chesapeake Bay are investing billions in restoring critical habitats to enhance conditions for people and wildlife. However, the rise of invasive blue catfish in the Bay's major rivers may hinder these efforts and limit ecosystem improvements. The USGS can address this challenge by collaborating with resource managers, academics, and stakeholders.
Population Monitoring and Removal Strategies for Blue Catfish in Chesapeake Bay
USGS is helping with the design of a population survey and developing mathematical models to assess potential activities to manage the population of invasive blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) in the Chesapeake Bay. This research will help managers determine the cost and feasibility of approaches to control this invasive species.
Blue catfish is an invasive species in the Chesapeake Bay area that negatively affect native shad populations and fisheries. Blue catfish also supports a prized trophy fishery in some rivers and a small but regionally valuable commercial fishery. This creates a challenge for balancing these differing interests. The USGS can help respond to this management challenge in the Nation’s largest estuary by leveraging its leadership and technical capabilities to work with resource managers, academics, and other interested parties. The USGS provides tools needed to predict where invasive species establish and where further spread may occur to assist managers in fighting invasions that have annual estimated economic and health-related costs in the United States reported at more than $21 billion.