A fish species whose population has skyrocketed in Maryland is being put to good use thanks to a partnership between the state’s wildlife agency and a fish wholesaler.

A water-filled elevator at the Conowingo Dam helps transport migratory fish species to the upper Susquehanna River and their breeding grounds. Technicians have been identifying invasive species and removing 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 partnership, over 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 Chesapeake channa), but flathead catfish and blue catfish were also removed.

The Maryland DNR found that snakeheads are particularly problematic, removing more than twice as many from the dam since the program began in 2021 as in other years.

The program is critical to the health of the local ecosystem, as the state’s wildlife agency noted that all of these species “feed on large quantities of native aquatic species and have few natural predators.”

Removing creatures that can outcompete native fish for food, swimming space and oxygen can also be of great benefit to the local community.

JJ McDonnell and Co., Inc. processed the fish caught and donated them to local food banks. Eating invasive species is becoming a popular method of control, with lionfish – when prepared properly – being recommended as a tasty dinner.

Invasive plants are also on the menu. Eating kudzu, chicory and grapes are examples of delicious ways to control plant overgrowth that can be harmful to native species.

“Invasive fish pose a significant threat to ecologically and economically important native species in Maryland,” said Branson Williams, invasive fish program manager for the Maryland DNR, in a statement. “The removal efforts at Conowingo Dam are a prime example of how partnership can strengthen our ability to control invasive fish and limit their spread.”

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