Market development for an invasive fish species: Blue catfish in the Chesapeake Bay, US

This research investigated market development for invasive blue catfish from the Chesapeake Bay, US. A small number of interviews with seafood processors and a large online survey of seafood consumers in the US Mid-Atlantic and Southeast (n = 1010) were used to understand factors influencing demand. The survey included a choice experiment to elicit consumer preferences for blue catfish in comparison to substitute seafood products and tested the effects of providing various types of information. Processors noted broad industry concerns related to labor availability and input costs and felt that expansion of the blue catfish market depended upon increasing consumer awareness and product familiarity. Consumer surveys revealed only one-third of respondents had consumed wild-caught blue catfish, though another third indicated they would be willing to try it. In the choice experiment, providing information on production method and product origin were found to increase consumer demand across seafood products. For blue catfish, providing additional information increasing consumer product familiarity or detailing the harmful ecological effects also increased demand. Mean consumer willingness-to-pay for blue catfish was estimated to be $9.70/lb, but increased to $22/lb in an information-rich scenario. These findings suggest a large potential market for invasive blue catfish in the US Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, with demand dependent on consumer product familiarity.