Maryland schoolkids are eating the invasive blue catfish that is taking over the Chesapeake Bay
NPR's visit to a school cafeteria and a fishing dock shows how a 'catty patty' became a conservation tool.
What happened: Caroline County Public Schools on Maryland's Eastern Shore serve a blue catfish cake, nicknamed the "catty patty," a couple of times a month, NPR reports. The district's food services supervisor developed the recipe after state officials asked for help about eight years ago, and other districts in Maryland and Virginia now serve blue catfish too, partly through a program called Bay2Tray.
Why it matters: Blue catfish were brought to Virginia rivers in the 1970s for sport fishing and now live in every tidal tributary of Maryland. A state invasive-fish manager says in some spots they make up about 70% of fish biomass, and they eat young crabs and forage fish the bay's seafood industry depends on.
How much agreement is there? Broad agreement. Officials agree the fish is a problem; the open question is whether eating it can keep numbers in check.
Could someone help? Students can ask their own school cafeterias about local invasive species on the menu, and diners can buy blue catfish when they see it.
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Blue catfish
After exploring Blue catfish devastating Chesapeake Bay served on school menus : NPR, the fish itself is profiled in Blue catfish.
The blue catfish is North America's largest catfish, native mainly to the Mississippi River basin, and can reach 65 inches and 143 pounds.
Wikipedia · Wade · 5 min
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