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Lawmaker flags spread of flathead catfish in Susquehanna; commission offers limited response
Summary
Representative Haddock told the committee that flathead catfish have established in the Susquehanna River and urged an aggressive response; the commission acknowledged growth but no new control policy was announced at the hearing.
Representative Haddock warned the committee that flathead catfish have taken hold in the Susquehanna River and said the species is an apex, nonnative predator that is spreading.
"The flathead catfish in the Susquehanna River ... they have caught hold and they're they're growing exponentially," Haddock said, adding that other states have mandated anglers remove flatheads when found.
Haddock asked what the commission's policy will be if the flathead catfish are found in other bodies of water. The committee did not record a specific new policy response at the hearing; Schafer and other staff acknowledged the species' growth and indicated the issue is of concern but did not announce a statewide control mandate during the meeting.
Why it matters: The spread of an apex nonnative predator can alter local fish communities and may prompt changes in stocking, angler guidance or regulatory responses if it spreads to other waters.
