A fish species that has seen a surge in population in Maryland is now being put to optimal use thanks to a partnership between the state wildlife service and a wholesale seafood company.
A water-filled elevator at Conowingo Dam helps transport migrating fish species to the upper Susquehanna River and their breeding grounds. Engineers have singled out invasive species and removed them from the water network, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources says.
According to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, which is involved in the collaboration, more than 18,000 pounds of invasive fish were removed from Maryland waters between March and June 2024.
Most of the fish were northern snakeheads (also known as the Chesapeake Channa), but flathead catfish and blue catfish were also removed.
According to the Maryland DNR, snakeheads are a particular problem. Since the program began in 2021, more than twice as many have been removed from the dam than in previous years.
The program is critical to the health of the local ecosystem, as the state wildlife service noted that all of these species “consume large quantities of native aquatic animals and have few natural predators.”
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Removing animals that can outcompete native fish for food, swimming space and oxygen can also be a huge benefit to the local community.
JJ McDonnell and Co., Inc. processed the fish they caught and donated them to local food banks. Eating invasive species is becoming a popular method of control, with lionfish being recommended as a tasty dinner option—when prepared correctly.
Invasive plants are also on the menu. Eating kudzu, chicory and wineberries are examples of delicious ways to control the overgrowth of flora that can harm native species.
“Invasive fish pose a significant threat to ecologically and economically important native species in Maryland,” Branson Williams, the Invasive Fishes Program Manager for Maryland’s DNR, said in a statement. “The removal effort at Conowingo Dam is a great example of how partnerships can strengthen our ability to manage invasive fish and limit their spread.”
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