July 24, 2024
Blue Catfish Grant Funding Now Open, Processors Incentivized to Use Delicious Invasive Fish
~ Applications for Blue Catfish Processing, Flash Freezing, and Infrastructure Grant Funding Accepted through September 6, 2024 ~

Contact: Michael Wallace

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) is currently accepting grant funding applications for projects that will help expand the fishing and processing of blue catfish in the state. Applications for the Governor's Blue Catfish Processing, Flash Freezing, and Infrastructure Grant Program will be accepted through Sept. 6, 2024.

Introduced several decades ago, the blue catfish is an invasive species that has been documented in all of Virginia’s tributaries to the Chesapeake Bay. They eat shad, herring, striped bass, menhaden, clams and blue crabs and there is concern that large catfish populations pose a detrimental impact on the populations of these species.

"Our mission is to ensure agriculture continues to be a growth engine and source of jobs in rural Virginia. Agriculture in all its forms is vitally important to Virginia’s economy, and this new program further diversifies economic opportunities in the industry," said Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Matthew Lohr.

"Blue catfish happen to be a highly nutritious and delicious fish that poses a danger to some of Virginia’s unique aquatic ecosystems. Through this grant, we will partner with Virginia watermen and fish processors to tackle this invasive species and turn it into a commercially viable enterprise," said VDACS Commissioner Joseph Guthrie. "Reducing the population of this invasive species by turning it into a revenue stream for Virginia producers is a win-win."

The Blue Catfish Processing, Flash Freezing, and Infrastructure Grant Program awards reimbursable grants of up to $250,000 to support infrastructure development projects that directly support local food production, enhance environmental sustainability, and demonstrate a broad community benefit. Grant funds should be used primarily for capital expenditures. Grant priority will be given to the following project types:

• Projects that create processing, flash freezing, and infrastructure capacity in proximity to small-scale blue catfish watermen.
• Processing facilities that are primarily locally owned, including packaging, freezing, and labeling facilities that are used for processing blue catfish.
• Projects that involve or incorporate existing seafood processors and businesses.
• Projects located in the localities of the Rural Coastal Virginia Community Enhancement Authority or in Planning District 23.

Additional information and application for this grant opportunity are available at www.vdacs.virginia.gov/agriculture-afid-infrastructure-grants-blue-catfish.shtml. Completed grant funding applications should be emailed by Sept. 6 to Genette Harris, Office of Agriculture and Forestry Development, at genette.harris@vdacs.virginia.gov or postmarked by Sept. 6 and sent by postal mail to VDACS Office of Agriculture and Forestry Development, 102 Governor Street, Richmond, Va., 23219.

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