Maryland DNR presents pilot programs on Blue Satfish – Maryland.gov

Maryland DNR presents pilot programs for commercial blue catfish

February 7, 2025

Initiatives will try out ideas aimed at increasing the invasive removal of catfish in CHESAPIKE Bay

Waterman David “Cornflower” configures fishing for invasive blue catfish on Marshyhope Creek. Maryland DNR photo by Stephen Bader.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) launches two pilot programs in coordination with its Invasive catfish Advisory Committee Aimed at limiting the spread of blue catfish in Chesapike and its tributaries.

The applications are already open to Blue Satfish pilot programs for rent/commercial and medium and lower stabbed. Trade watermelon captains and charter boats can be applied to participate through the online forms on the DNR website.

“The silver lining of the challenges that the blue catfish pose in the Chesapik Bay is that they have a great taste,” said the manager of the invasive fish program DNR Branson Williams. “These pilot programs are intended to reduce barriers over commercial fishermen to capture and sell more blue catfish. Our goal is to reduce biomass and these programs will help with these efforts. ”

Blue catfish – ICTALURUS FURCATUS – are problematic due to their insatiable and indiscriminate appetites, high reproductive frequency and potential for harmful to local species, some of which are important for commercial and entertainment for Maryland, including blue crabsS

Pilot programs are part of the bigger efforts of the department to mitigate the negative impact that blue catfish have on local species and ecosystems. Other initiatives include stimulating the charters’ captains to harvest data for their catfish for their catfish and travel of Cheesapeake Channa (Northern Snakehead), helping invasive tournaments for types and work with stakeholders and other agencies to increase removal. There is no season or restriction on a fun catfish for fishermen who have the right fishing license in Maryland.

Details of the two new programs are below.

Blue Soma to hire/commercial pilot program

The Blue Satfish Charter pilot program allows participants to manage both hiring and commercial fishing trips and removes crew restrictions on commercial fishing trips aimed at blue catfish. This action will financially encourage captains to sell excess blue catfish after the charter, not to let the fish alive.

There is no maximum number of participants in the pilot for this project. Applicants must have a suitable commercial fishing license, target Blue Satfish on a charter trip, and complete daily reporting on charter travel and commercial activity.

Program Applications are open now and will be viewed on the basis of a movable basis.

Pilot Program for the Trotlone of Finology with Middle and Lower Hall

The department is considering relaxing provisions forbidding the Finfish Trobles south of the William Preston Lane Mr. Jr. Bridge to combat fight against increased abundance and advanced distribution of invasive catfish through an additional commercial harvest.

Maryland DNR image

The Finfish Trotline pilot program with a middle and lower room will allow a small number of combines to use Fraffishi for trotters (see illustration) in the Chief Bay of Chesapike to the south of the Bay Bridge. The department will look at the attraction, consumer conflicts and other issues encountered during the pilot before proposing changes in regulation to allow widespread use.

Finfish Trotlines are an effective gear that is commonly used to collect invasive blue and catfish with flatPylodictis olivaris). TROTLINES represents 26% of Maryland’s blue catfish harvest from 2019 to 2023.

Participants in the program must have a Maryland tidal license unlimited tide (TFL) or unlimited Finfish Finfish (FIN) license. The whole harvest must be taken into account after each trip through an electronic reporting form or a diary provided by the department.

Current licenses holders can still use Finfish Trotlines to collect blue catfish and other fish in the legal waters of the state without participating in this program.

Applications are open Now until February 20, 2025, a limited number of permits will be issued based on weighted selection criteria.