RICHMOND, Va. (WFXR) — Virginia Governor Glenn Younkin has announced a $250 thousand grant to Sea Farms Inc. to expand blue catfish processing. It is the inaugural grant in a new program to help processors increase capacity.
Blue catfish were introduced to the James River almost fifty years ago to provide a trophy fishery. However, despite creating world class trophy fishing opportunities, their numbers have exploded and they have migrated to other Chesapeake tributaries where they have put increased pressure on native fish species.
In an effort to control the blue catfish biomass, but preserve the trophy fishery, Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (VDWR) fisheries managers, as well as seafood industry managers with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) have promoted the harvest and consumption of blue catfish.
State funding for processors and commercial fishermen is part of that program.
Smaller blue catfish are preferred for eating. Blue cats can grow to more than 100 pounds, but smaller fish in the five to 15 pound range make for the best table fare.
