Morgan State University's PEARL Secures State and Federal Funding to Study Impact of Invasive Blue Catfish

Strategic Insights -

Morgan State University's Patuxent Environment and Aquatic Research Laboratory (PEARL) has been awarded two grants to study the impact of blue catfish, an invasive species found throughout the Chesapeake Bay system. The research aims to mitigate the effects of the invasive species on local ecosystems, fisheries, and coastal economies. Over the next two years, PEARL will engage with stakeholders, including commercial and recreational sectors, government entities, nongovernmental organizations, and the scientific community, to gather relevant data and create a shared framework of management strategies.

Key Takeaways:

  • The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources have granted a total of $575,000 to support research on the impact of blue catfish in the Chesapeake Bay system.
  • The research will involve collaboration with stakeholders, data collection, and structured decision-making to develop a unified understanding of best practices for managing blue catfish.
  • The goal of the project is to identify the combination of management strategies that will best serve the interests of most stakeholders, using ecosystem modeling and close collaboration with fishermen and management agencies.
  • Four in-person meetings will be organized to provide a forum for Chesapeake stakeholders to share their ideas with fisheries managers.
  • The research will also estimate the economic value of Maryland's recreational blue catfish harvest fishery, with funding from the Maryland DNR, and create a comprehensive report to be shared and presented at regional and national conferences.

Statistics:

  • The research will focus on the Chesapeake Bay system, which spans across various jurisdictions, and affects many species important for commercial and recreational fishing.
  • The blue catfish invasion in the Chesapeake Bay system presents challenges for sustainable fisheries management, and many stakeholders have conflicting interests.
  • The research aims to involve collaboration with stakeholders, including stakeholder engagement, social science survey research, ecological modeling, and strategic decision-making.
  • The project will take place over 18 months, with the goal of providing each jurisdiction with recommendations for a range of management measures.
  • The estimated economic value of Maryland's recreational blue catfish harvest fishery is yet to be determined through a survey to be conducted by PEARL.

Sources:

  • Morgan State University (2023) - https://www.morgan.edu/news/pearl-secures-funding-to-study-impact-of-blue-catfish.