Snakeheads Moving North--Fish Commission Opts for No Action
PHILADELPHIA — An invasive, predatory species of fish has been discovered in a Philadelphia waterway, raising concern about its impact on native species such as catfish, shad and largemouth bass.

An angler caught two northern snakeheads in Meadow Lake within FDR Park last week and contacted the Fish and Boat Commission, which then caught three more snakeheads. The commission said it believes snakeheads are present in other local waterways, perhaps including the Schuylkill and Delaware rivers.

In the true CHL spirit, the commission said it will not try to eliminate the species. "Based on the experiences of other states where northern snakeheads have been previously identified and become established, we believe that an aggressive approach to eradicate the species from the Meadow Lake would be neither practical nor effective," executive director Douglas Austen said.

Northern snakeheads first drew attention in 2002 when two were discovered in a Maryland pond. The species also has been found in a tributary of the Potomac River.

Native to Asia and Africa, the fearsome-looking fish can breathe air and survive on land for days at a time. The snakehead is considered dangerous to the ecosystem because it devours other fish and frogs and has no known predators.

Snakeheads are edible and were introduced into this country through fish markets.

The fish commission said anglers certain they have caught a snakehead should not release it, but report it to the commission.
- nostradamusfunkadelic, 2:28 PM | |