[Hamilton Reef]

Bill targets invasive fish species - 12/22/03

CHESTERFIELD TOWNSHIP — People who release invasive aquatic species such as bighead carp or snakefish into state waters could go to prison for five years and pay as much as $250,000 in fines, under a bill approved last week by the state House.

http://www.detnews.com/2003/metro/0312/22/c01-14959.htm

Invasive species
Foreign fish species are targeted in legislation that passed the state House last week. Anyone caught with the fish or trying to release them into the Great Lakes and its tributaries faces fines of up to $250,000 and prison terms of up to five years.

The targeted fish are:
* Bighead carp* Bitterling
* Black carp* Ide
* Japanese weatherfish
* Rudd* Silver carp
* Tench
* Any fish in the snakehead fish family

 

[enfield]

I don't know what most of the fish are, but I know what a big head carp is. Ugly son of a gun, but I'd sure like to hook one of those big boys. They're in the Tennessee river system and the Tennessee has some of the finest fishing in the country, so I don't see what the problem is.

I don't know that we're necessarily worse off with the zebra mussel invasion. From what I've read, they're largely responsible for the comeback of Lake Erie.

(No, I didn't introduce the mussels, and I don't have any carp in my aquarium with sinister plans to release them.)

 

[Hamilton Reef]

Perry man in hot water over alien fish

Joe Schultz says the ugly, toothy fish in his pet store tank were never for sale. But that might not matter.
The fish, voracious predators known as snakeheads, can cause so much damage in the environment that it's illegal to even have them, wildlife officials say.

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/lake/108305829654711.xml

 

[Hamilton Reef]

Banned fish back, to state's chagrin

The "Frankenfish" is back.
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission today will begin draining Pine Lake in Wheaton Regional Park to find and kill northern snakeheads — the air-breathing, land-walking, foreign fish that threatened to eat its way through state waterways in 2002.

http://washingtontimes.com/metro/20040428-100354-5184r.htm

 

[mrymar]

I'd sure like to hook one of those big boys. They're in the Tennessee river system and the Tennessee has some of the finest fishing in the country, so I don't see what the problem is.

Go to Tennessee then. I do not want them here. They can affect the entire food chain.

 

[Hamilton Reef]

DNA Tests Could Provide Clues About Origin of Snakeheads

http://www.wtopnews.com/index.php?nid=25&sid=211190

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Wildlife officials and researchers who are trying to get a handle on the extent of the snakehead fish invasion are hoping DNA test results will give them some useful clues.
The Smithsonian Institution is planning to compare the DNA of five snakeheads found in the Potomac River with the snakeheads found two years ago in a pond in Crofton.

The test results could help officials determine the origin of the Potomac's population of northern snakeheads.

It's feared the nonnative species will crowd out and devour native fish.

Meanwhile, biologists are still using nets and electronic gear to find out if there are more snakeheads in the Potomac. But officials say they can't possibly survey all the areas where snakeheads might be lurking.

 

[One Eye]

I bet they don't start inspecting the foreign ships that come into the Great Lakes anytime soon :rant: :rant: IMO, these are much bigger threats than the local Joe letting his exotic pet fish go! Of course, in order to actually inspect foreign ships, we may impact that great economic machine called "foreign trade".

Dan

 

[Hamilton Reef]

Latest Snakehead Is Bigger, Older Than Others

DNR officials said Cliff Magnus, a Maryland angler, caught the 24-inch, 5.14-lb., fish in Little Hunting Creek, which is on the Virginia side of the river.

http://www.nbc4.com/news/3433201/detail.html

Slideshow: Snakehead Found In Little Hunting Creek

June 8, 2004: Snakehead Investigation Goes High Tech
June 3, 2004: Fifth Snakehead Found In Potomac River
May 31, 2004: Nets Used To Catch Snakeheads
May 28, 2004: Fisherman Catches Another Snakehead
May 25, 2004: Wheaton Pond Returns To Normal
May 19, 2004: Snakeheads Banned In Montgomery, Except As Lunch
May 17, 2004: One More Snakehead Found
May 14, 2004: Fishermen Asked To Help Search For Snakeheads
May 13, 2004: Another Snakehead Found In Maryland
May 12, 2004: Biologist: More Snakeheads Could Be Out There

 

[Hamilton Reef]

http://www.delawareonline.com/newsjournal/local/2004/07/25snakeheadscaugh.html

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, carp, 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.

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.

 

[Hamilton Reef]

Snakeheads skunk 'em

Maryland fisherman Clifford Magnus holds the record for catching the biggest northern snakehead in the Potomac River, but yesterday he and 114 other fishermen rolled nothing but snake eyes.

http://www.washtimes.com/metro/20040730-105215-6037r.htm