More than 60 years since it was introduced to Virginia waters, the invasive blue catfish population is thriving and only growing. “They introduced blue catfish in the James and York,” said Mary Fabrizio, a professor at the College of William & Mary’s Batten School & Virginia Institute of Marine Science. The blue catfish was brought to Virginia in the 1960s and ’70s for recreational fishing. “Catfish are really popular among anglers,” said Fabrizio. Though blue catfish are typically a freshwater fish, the species soon crept into more brackish waters. “They’re just a good, hardy species,” said Shelby White, marine business specialist with the VIMS Marine Advisory Program. “These catfish are very adaptable,” said Fabrizio. Today, there are laws and regulations in place to prevent people from introducing non-native species in new territories and across state lines. “Back then, that was pretty common,” she said. “People were moving fish all over the place. Now, we pay attention to t...