Research - Sea Grant Research Projects
Flathead Catfish in Eastern Pennsylvania

Research

Project Summary

The Introduced Flathead Catfish Pilot Study was a collaborative effort of the Pennsylvania Flathead Catfish Consortium, comprised of Pennsylvania Sea Grant, the Philadelphia Water Department, the Monell Chemical Senses Center, the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC). This three-part study collected baseline information that will enable fisheries managers to make better informed decisions to protect the Delaware Estuary Coastal Zone's native fish and shellfish resources, and help prevent the spread of introduced flathead catfish (FCF) to new waterways including those of New York, New Jersey and Delaware. The primary accomplishments of this pilot study were:

1. Preliminary assessment of FCF distribution and abundance in the Delaware River watershed
2. Preliminary analysis of FCF diet, feeding habits and prey items
3. Behavior studies that investigated potential FCF biological control techniques
   

To view a .pdf of the full report:

• Introduced Flathead Catfish Pilot Study

Garold W. Sneegas, USGS http://nas.er.usgs.gov 13-April-05