April 9, 2014 — The Maryland Department of Natural Resources and partners will launch a new campaign to educate citizens on the problems presented by invasive Blue and Flathead Catfish and how they can help. The event will feature a cooking demonstration, a catfish-dish tasting, and the unveiling of new public information signs.
Who:
Tom O'Connell, Director, DNR Fisheries Service
Peyton Robertson, Director, NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office; Chair, Chesapeake Bay Program Sustainable Fisheries Goal Implementation Team
Steve Vilnit, DNR Fisheries Marketing Director
When:
Thursday, April 10
12:30 to 2 p.m.
Where:
Smallwood State Park
2750 Sweden Point Rd.
Marbury Md 20658
Why: Increasing in population and range, both Blue and Flathead Catfish are now considered invasive in Maryland, and are causing concern among fishery managers. These large, long-lived fish have few natural predators and yield high numbers of offspring, impacting the natural food chain, the ecosystem, and important commercial and recreational fisheries. Species of concern include White Perch, shad, river herring, native catfish, Blue Crabs, Atlantic Menhaden, clams, Bluegill, mussels and crayfish.
Read the full story at The Fishing Wire