SAVE THE CHESAPEAKE BAY
SERVE WILD BLUE CATFISH! The problem: Why they’re a problem: The runaway runaway population population of of the the invasive invasive Wild Wild Blue Blue Catfish Catfish poses poses The a serious threat to the Chesapeake Bay’s ecosystem. a serious threat to the Chesapeake Bay’s ecosystem. They can can live live longer longer than than 20 20 years years and and grow grow to to over over 100 100 lbs. lbs. •• They • They are top-of-the-food-chain predators • They are top-of-the-food-chain predators • They outcompete native species for food by eating massive quantities • They outcompete native species for food by eating massive of menhaden, blue crabs, worms, eels and freshwater mussels quantities of menhaden, blue crabs, worms, eels and freshwater mussels • They invade spawning grounds of rock, herring, shad and perch, eating their eggs and endangering their survival • They invade the spawning grounds of rock, herring, shad and perch, eating their eggs and endangering • their Wild survival Blue Catfish are highly productive and create high numbers of offspring in each reproductive cycle — Females produce 4,000 to 8,000 eggs per kilogram of body weight, so a 10-pound fish could produce more than • Wild Blue Catfish are highly productive and create high numbers of offspring in each reproductive 20,000 eggs cycle — Females produce 4,000 to 8,000 eggs per kilogram of body weight, so a 10-pound fish could than through 20,000 eggs • produce They are more spreading the Bay into every major tributary, and can live in fresh or brackish water • They aregrow spreading the Bay intothey every major tributary, livenative in fresh orfish brackish water the As they largerthrough and more plentiful, will consume moreand andcan more Bay and impact population of Rockfish along the entire Atlantic coast • As they grow larger and more plentiful, they will consume more and more native Bay fish and impact the population of Rockfish along the entire Atlantic coast
The The plan: plan:
There are 100 million Wild Blue Catfish in the Bay (500 million pounds), and the population is growing exponentially. There are 100 million Wild Blue Catfish in the Bay (500 million pounds), and the population is growing exponentially. To curb the population growth and lessen the impact on native species, 40 million pounds need to be harvested To curb the population growth and lessen the impact on native species, 40 million pounds need to be harvested annually for the foreseeable future. To merit that harvest quantity, we must increase customer demand. annually for the foreseeable future. To merit that harvest quantity, we must increase customer demand.
How How you you can can help: help: •• Sell Sell this this fish! fish!
Why Why the the plan plan works: works:
• Chefs and restaurant customers will love this fish • Chefs and restaurant customers will love this fish • Wild Blue Catfish taste better than traditional, farm-raised catfish due to their diet of menhaden and perch • Wild Blue Catfish taste better than traditional, farm-raised catfish due to their diet of menhaden and perch • They are mild, clean-tasting and flaky • They are mild, clean-tasting and flaky • They’re less expensive than comparable white fish like striper or pollock • They’re less expensive than comparable white fish like striper or pollock • They are a healthy, locally-caught, sustainable seafood protein • They are a healthy, locally-caught, sustainable seafood protein • Crucially, eating this fish helps save the Chesapeake Bay and its native species! • Crucially, eating this fish helps save the Chesapeake Bay and its native species!
4025039 PACKER 1/#10 AVG Wild Blue Catfish Filets Wild4025039 Blue Catfish FiletsAVG $5.25/lb. 1/10#