Empowering people to restore nature: A fishtastic solution - Chesapeake Bay Trust Skip to main content

Empowering people to restore nature: A fishtastic solution

As threats emerge to streams, creeks, rivers and bays, so do innovative solutions to protect these ecosystems to promote environmental, economic and social well-being. In Charles County in Southern Maryland, a local nonprofit is stepping up to tackle the growing threat of the invasive blue catfish.

In 2021, Chief Jesse and his wife Rosanna Swann established Through Piscataway Eyes, “a tribally designated nonprofit to help our tribal community with food insecurity, financial insecurity, and provide a safety net to an at-risk group of people,” explained Jessica Swann, their daughter.

“Piscataway Conoy Tribe means ‘We are the people where the waters blend.’ It goes into us being the stewards to one of the largest watersheds,” added Kyle Swann, son to Chief Jesse and Rosanna.

Through Piscataway Eyes

Being stewards of our natural resources often requires resources. Through the Chesapeake Bay Trust’s Outreach and Restoration Grant Program, Through Piscataway Eyes received funding to carry out their local solution to an environmental and tribal need.

“The Outreach and Restoration Grant Program is one of our oldest and largest grant programs. It funds projects geared around getting our communities involved in restoring and taking care of their natural resources,” shared Chesapeake Bay Trust Program Manager Danielle Hamilton. “Funding like this can be the entry point into making ideas happen.”

Their idea? Run an “Aquatic Invasive Species Control Program” led by an expert team of Piscataway Conoy tribal citizens to remove the invasive blue catfish and donate the catch to vulnerable tribal members including elders and families with children.

“When you hear invasive species and what they are doing to the watershed, as stewards of the land it’s our responsibility to do everything we can to preserve the natural ecosystem,” shared Jessica. “So funding from Chesapeake Bay Trust and the grant program to help remove the invasive blue catfish was absolutely something we were excited to get involved with.”

The “Aquatic Invasive Species Control Program” removed approximately 3,000 pounds of invasive fish and utilized the catch as a nutritious and delicious food source. “It’s not only good for the natural ecosystem, it also provides a healthy food source to our tribal members to help alleviate some of that food insecurity,” Jessica said.

“This was an amazing grant project,” said Danielle. “They’ve identified an environmental need which is invasive aquatic species, and they’ve identified a need in their community, and they’ve come up with a solution that addresses their community need and environmental need simultaneously.”

Swann siblings

“For generations, we have relied on the waterways; it was very much the essence of our life as Piscataway people,” shared Kyle. “The nourishment that it’s able to provide, whether it’s through fish, whether it’s through the overall conditions of the area, we can’t thank it enough.”

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