In recent years, certain Chesapeake Bay fisheries have suffered. One cause is the decline in the blue crab harvest. Joseph Schmitt of Virginia Tech plans to investigate the role blue catfish play in the decline of crab as well as in the Bay as a whole. Blue catfish, a non-native species, are believed to prey on the crab and to adapt well to disturbed ecosystems near urban areas, such as Richmond and Newport News. Schmitt hopes to build on past research by providing site-specific food habits data and consumption estimates. He plans to use new and social media, such as blogging and Twitter, so that his research can reach a diverse audience.
Fellow: Joseph Schmitt (VT)
Advisor: Donald Orth (VT)
Outreach Mentor: Eric Kaufman (VT)
