Join Chesapeake Forum at Temple B’Nai Israel on June 25th from 5:30 – 8 PM for a special Lectures on the Shore presentation: The Blue Catfish Dilemma: Threat or Opportunity. The population of blue catfish is soaring across the Bay with dramatic impacts on locally important stocks including rock fish and blue crab. At the same time, the explosion of blue catfish offers opportunities for entrepreneurs who believe it can open up new markets for Chesapeake Bay seafood.
Introduced to the Virginia end of the Chesapeake Bay in the 1970s, the blue catfish has rapidly expanded through Maryland’s rivers and outcompeting native fish for food and habitat. These highly adaptable predators feed on blue crab, menhaden, American eel, and other economically and ecologically important species. They can now be found in most of Maryland’s tidal and non‑tidal rivers—and even throughout the Bay itself—where their broad diet and fast growth give them a significant advantage.
As their population continues to surge, the spread of blue catfish has become a major concern for scientists, watermen, and fisheries managers. Their impact on native species of the Bay has sparked intense debate about how best to respond to this growing ecological challenge.
Two engaging speakers will help illuminate the challenges and opportunities the blue catfish poses for the Bay. Salisbury University professor Dr. Noah Bressman, who studies invasive species on the Bay, will describe the current Blue Catfish situation, how it came to be and ideas around mitigation while Tilghman waterman and entrepreneur Nick Hargrove discusses the opportunities it offers.
Tickets for The Blue Catfish Dilemma: Threat or Opportunity are $60 for a VIP reception starting at 5:30 PM with wine and hors d’oeuvres plus reserved seating. Tickets to the lecture or live-stream only are $40. Doors open to the public at 6:15 PM. To register, visit https://chesapeakeforum.org.
Chesapeake Forum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing lifelong learning opportunities to residents of the Eastern Shore. Chesapeake Forum is a part of the YMCA of the Chesapeake. To receive our newsletter, please send your contact information to: info@chesapeakeforum.org.
