The snakehead fish which is native to parts of Africa and Asia are currently being discovered all over the United States. One location they are being found is particularly close to home for Georgia residents, as they have now been discovered in Gwinnett County, Georgia.
The Snakehead has been labeled as an invasive species since they can cause ecological or economic harm to an environment where it is not native.
According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, this is the first known appearance of the fish in Georgia. Snakeheads have been reported in 14 states in the United States in the past 15 years and in 6 states in 2019, despite the United States banning the import of the fish in 2002.
So, how did this non-native, invasive species end up in Georgia? “There are various reasons,” explained, Associate Professor at Georgia Southern University, Jamie Roberts. Even though the Snakehead is illegal to import, “ they’re a delicacy in Asia so people find ways to bring them over to eat, or they will keep them as pets and once they start growing they decide they no longer want them and release them,” Robert said.
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This is a map of all the sightings of the snakehead fish in the United States in 2019 through October 26.
“It was something that I never expected to see in Georgia, ever,” the fisherman who caught the snakehead told 11Alive News.
The impact the fish can have on wildlife in Georgia is relatively unknown, but they have created undesirable conditions in other states by invading habitats and competing for food with native species.
The biggest concern Roberts says right now that he knows of with them being in Georgia and a top predator is the Snakehead spreading into new watersheds which would put endangered fish species at risk for extinction.
“They are a predator that eats mostly other fish, but also amphibians, small animals, frogs, lizards,” Robinson said. “It will compete with our native species for food and habitat.”
The snakehead is a long, thin fish that can get up to three feet in length. It has a long dorsal fin that runs along their entire back. The fish also has a dark brown blotchy appearance and can breathe air while surviving in low oxygenated areas.
According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, it is “‘unlawful to import, transport, sell, transfer or possess any species of snakehead fish without a valid wild animal license.”
Some local fishermen are worried that people will catch a snakehead and release it back into the water, not knowing the damage that could do to the ecosystem.
“Even casual fishers need to be educated on what this fish looks like,” Corey New of Milledgeville said. “It could be destructive to the environment so everyone needs to know what the fish looks like and the proper procedures if they do catch one.”
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources also says that if someone believes that they’ve caught a snakehead fish they need to follow these guidelines:
- Make sure you don’t release it.
- Kill it immediately and freeze it.
- Take pictures of the fish up close if possible, the pictures should include close-ups of its mouth, fins, and tail.
- Keep track of where the fish was caught.
- And finally, report it to your regional Georgia DNR wildlife resources division fisheries office.
Using these guidelines can make sure that this invasive species doesn’t cause any harm to anyone or the environment around them.
For more information of the Snakehead FishClick Here
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