In response to the growing economic and ecological concerns presented by the continued spread of invasive blue catfish in the waters of the Commonwealth, Chapters 218 and 240 of the 2024 Acts of Assembly (Acts) required the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) to convene a work group of stakeholders that have a vested interest in reducing the negative ecological effects of blue catfish and increasing the marketing, processing, and sale of blue catfish in the Commonwealth (Work Group). The Work Group convened four separate in-person meetings in 2025 (March 13, April 25, May 9, and June 12) to (i) review past and ongoing efforts to promote the creation of a market for blue catfish, (ii) identify and explore potential sectors for the blue catfish market, and (iii) identify any actions that the Commonwealth can take to promote and expand the market for blue catfish. Additionally, the Work Group held an all-virtual meeting on July 11, 2025, to discuss the draft version of this report to the General Assembly. The Acts require the Work Group to report its findings and recommendations to the Governor; the Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry; the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources; and the Chairs of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources, the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations, the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources, and the House Committee on Appropriations no later than September 1, 2025. This report documents the work of the Work Group and summarizes the Work Group's discussions and recommendations.

Recommendations of the Blue Catfish Work Group

The following Work Group recommendations address the three core charges outlined in Chapters 218 and 240 of the 2024 Virginia Acts of Assembly:

1. Review past and ongoing efforts to promote the creation of a market for blue catfish

The Work Group revealed that multiple groups were all promoting blue catfish independently of each other. The Work Group recommends that one group take the lead on marketing blue catfish to align domestic and international efforts. To do this effectively, additional authorization and funding for a full-time equivalent (FTE) to be housed under the Virginia Marine Products Board (VMPB) is needed. The primary function of this position is to consolidate and disburse grant and other funding opportunities to promote marketing and production efforts. This should include a targeted media campaign with influencers such as celebrity chefs, chef competitions, and festivals revolving around the theme that the fish tastes good, is good for you, and eating it is good for the environment.

The Work Group recommends labeling blue catfish as “Chesapeake Wild Harvest" to differentiate it from farmed fish. The Work Group recommends one of the following organizations to certify the label: The Waterman’s Association, Marine Resource Commission (MRC), or the Virginia Finest program.

2. Identify and explore potential sectors for the blue catfish market

Promotions:

• Sponsored events to promote catching and eating of blue catfish
• Social media marketing strategy
• Expand and enhance the use of the Department of Wildlife Resources “Go Outdoor Virginia" app for anglers to use to show where they are catching fish, with the data being used to understand where the fish are and encourage others to fish there

Education:

• Showcase the nutritional comparison of fish
• Program to enhance consumer education
• How to properly prepare the fish for both institutions and end user consumers

Immediate impact customer base:

• Corrections and schools
o Easing restrictions on the cost per meal per person to allow for greater use of blue catfish within correctional facilities
o Introduce incentives for a certain percentage of food (suggest 20 percent) to be sourced locally (state of Virginia) for all state funded institutions and federally funded child nutrition programs

3. Identify any actions that the Commonwealth can take to promote and expand the market for blue catfish

The Work Group discussed possible funding and budgetary actions that could be explored.

• Consolidation of information on potentially available funding sources:
o Fisheries Innovation for Sustainable Harvest Fund
o Marine Fisheries Improvement Grant Program
o Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund (AFID) Blue Catfish Processing, Flash Freezing, and Infrastructure Grant Program

• General Assembly budgetary actions:
o Increase institutional funding for local purchases
o Fund the Fisheries Innovation for Sustainable Harvest Fund
o Additional funding to increase support for MRC’s Commissioners Waterman’s Apprenticeship Program and add an additional FTE for outreach and resource connection.
o Maintain and increase funding for the AFID Blue Catfish Processing, Flash Freezing, and Infrastructure Grant Program
o Additional funding to DWR to revise the Go Virginia" app
o Authorize and fund an FTE for the VMPB grants manager
o EO 14276 “Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness" joint Commonwealth resolution to Congress encouraging moving Blue Catfish back to an FDA regulated item from the United States Department of Agriculture.