#invasive-species

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.

What happened: The Breekkrans River Restoration Project, about two hours north of Cape Town, has removed invasive spotted bass from 8 km of the upper river, Mongabay reported on Oct. 28. That extended the habitat of the critically endangered doring fiery redfin from 2 km to 10 km. Bass were brought in for angling in the late 1930s and prey on small native fish.

Why it matters: The Breekkrans holds the largest remaining population of the redfin, probably a few hundred adults. Ecologists say all native fish species expanded their range after the bass were removed, and that the method could be used to restore other invaded rivers.

How much agreement is there? Broad agreement. The provincial conservation authority Cape Nature and the researchers report the results; no opposing view is reported.

Could someone help? Anglers can avoid moving fish between waters, and freshwater groups such as the Fynbos Fish Trust, a project partner, support this kind of work.