Bennett HS students learn to catch catfish as part of sustainability education

SHARPTOWN, Md – 14 Juniors from James Bennett High School got the chance to catch, prepare and even cook catfish Friday as part of their AP Environmental Science class.

The activity was run in collaboration between the school and MDNR, who showed the kids the properties of blue catfish, as well as other invasive species in the bay that made them able to reproduce in record numbers.

The high school students started the day testing the PH and O2 levels in the water in Sharptown near the bridge, then they hit the pier looking to catch blue catfish, snakeheads, and more

After catching multiple fish the students learned how to filet them and even cook them on the spot.

Those behind the event say it’s a great way to teach them the impact they can have on the ecosystem.

“This is one of the only activities they can really make a difference environmentally they can’t go out buy a new ev Tesla car or put solar panels on their house but they can go catch invasive fish which will help the environment,” said Science Teacher Rob Hopkins.

Hopkins tells 47ABC many of the students lost the chance to do dissections as part of their biology curriculum and got to see one up close for the first time as part of the event.