Ariana Wohlstattar Wednesday, March 27, 2013 Health, Science, and Environmental Reporting Trend Story Snakehead: Invasive

Species tries to Coexist in DC Waters Originally native to Asia, these creatures were in no means meant to swim through the waters of The Potomac and Chesapeake. The Potomac River runs approximately four-hundred miles flowing into The Chesapeake Bay. Over 2,700 species co-exist in the two bodies of water combined. However, fishermen are angry and concerned about a relatively new invasive species that is disrupting the natural coexistence of life in both the water and on land. While many imagine house intruders to look scary, it comes no different for these fish in the water. The Northern Snakehead: A long, spot-marked fish, with sharp little teeth and a dorsal fin; many refer them to as Frankenfish for its undesirable looks. The Northern Snakehead is one of twenty-nine Snakehead species. It is estimated that about ten years ago the fish was found in a small pond in Crofton, Maryland; brought illegally from their native habitat. While most species of Snakehead have the ability to wiggle and squirm around on land to travel short distances from one body of water to another, this is not the case for the Northern Snakehead. An article reviewed and published in the journal, Science and Nature, suggests that heavy rain may have washed the fish into a nearby river that spills into The Chesapeake. They are ugly, disgusting creatures! I want them all dead, I hate them, Says Doug Townsend, A local fishermen and store owner of Townsend Express Reel and Pole in Jessup, Maryland. Fishermen like Townsend feel concerned about what the invasive fish are doing to the ecosystems of the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay. Im going for Catfish, they screw everything up. They kill Catfish and Bass-fish that Im trying to catch, says Townsend. The Northern Snakeheads appetite brings form of competition to other native species .Their diet does not discriminate, they eat almost anything they can swallow. Native fish like Largemouth Bass feed on similar prey such as small fish, frogs, and mice. If that prey becomes less available, than the competition for food and survival increases. Largemouth Bass are one of the most popular fish native to both the Potomac and Chesapeake. Fishermen and restaurants depend on their population as a source of food and income. Their reproduction habitats are also similar to the Snakeheads; posing yet another threat to the Large Mouth Basses existence. Both species nest in aquatic plants, where the female lays her eggs. Just as the two fish are competing for prey, they are competing for nesting space as well.

Doctor Joseph Love, Tidal Bass Manager for Marylands Department of Natural Resources, is often confronted by local anglers concerned by the increase in competition that Snakeheads are imposing on the native fish. While he agrees that the fish are potentially posing threats to the ecosystem, the threat may not be that imminent. We have observed the way Snakeheads are living in this new habitat here, preying for food, spawning, and even cases where they are preyed upon by other species. In our observation, it does not seem to be a huge problem, both species...Snakehead and Bass, seem to be coexisting. While Dr. Love does not feel the threat of the Snakehead is immediate, he feels strongly about encouraging local fishermen to catch and kill them. Part of our job has been to support and promote fishing of Snakehead... and KILL them, says Love. One of the incentives we tell people is that Snakehead is actually quite tasty! Snakehead is considered a prized food in most Asian countries. Its served in a variety of different ways, including the use of a clay pot and pickled preparations. Many chefs in the United States suggest incorporating Snakehead in restaurants to reduce their invasive population. Not a lot of people know about them. They have only been in our ecosystem for about ten years now. People dont know how to catch them and what to do with them when they do catch them. But the tide is changing... fishermen will catch them and sell them as a bi-product to wholesalers who then sell them to restaurants, says Love. Many restaurants in the DC Metro area have featured the Snakehead in their menus. Renowned Chef, Chad Wells of Aliewife in Baltimore is pushing for more restaurants to feature the relatively new species. He sometimes presents a cilantro citrus Snakehead ceviche on the menu, when able to get his hands on the fish. But local fishermen like Townsend only feel anger toward the species, and want nothing to do with it. I heard they eat, but I dont care. I hate them, I kill them and throw them in the woods. I just want people to kill them. Everyone I talk to would pay five, ten bucks more just to get rid of them, said Townsend. The ugly fish are certainly leaving an impression on fishermen across the area. Whether you are taking them home for dinner, or throwing them into the woods, it is encouraged by officials to catch and kill any Snakehead caught. Research is still in infancy and will continue to be investigated by the Department of Natural Resources.

We wont see what the exact impact is of the Snakehead for another twenty-five years, says Dr. Love. But we continue to encourage fishermen to catch and kill the fish until we can determine the exact role they are playing in our ecosystem.