THE IMPACT OF THE

NORTHERN SNAKEHEAD ON
AQUATIC LIFE IN THE US

Orin Sparks
Contents
Abstract - 2
The Problem - 2
The origin of the Northern Snakehead - 2
The expansion of the invasive species - 3
The environmental impacts of the Northern Snakehead - 3
What can be done - 4
Conclusion - 4
References - 6

1
Abstract
There are various aquatic invasive species in the United States, but there is one
freshwater species that warrants concern above most. Channa argus also known as the
Northern Snakehead is a long, thin, freshwater fish that originated from North Asia. The fish is
quite resilient to many aquatic scenarios and tends to decimate the other species of fish
wherever it is located. Snakeheads were originally brought into the United States primarily to
be sold in live food fish markets and as pets. It was only a matter of time before the snakeheads
were introduced into the local ecosystem for a plethora of reasons. After introduction the
Northern Snakehead began to displace the local food chain and cause necessary indigenous
species to struggle to survive. If not stopped, the Northern Snakehead will alter the aquatic
ecological conditions of much of the United States.

Courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey

The Problem
The origin of the Northern Snakehead
The Northern Snakehead is native to China, Korea, and Russia. It is believed by many
that the Snakehead was introduced into US waterways via unauthorized release from the live
food fish market trade. According to the USGS “The northern snakehead has become widely
popular in ethnic markets and restaurants over the last two decades, such that this species
comprised the greatest volume and weight of all live snakehead species imported into the
U.S.”. In addition to food there are several cultural uses in the form of ceremonial release that
may still be being practiced.

2
 The status of the invasive species
It is important to understand what makes a species invasive. Invasive species is defined
by NOAA as being “an organism that causes ecological or economic harm in a new environment
where it is not native”. The Northern Snakehead being classified as an invasive species has been
banned from importation into the United States. Additionally, it is also illegal to transport the
fish across state lines. As stated by the USGS “Channa argus is established in Delaware, Virginia,
Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Arkansas but is not established in
California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, and North Carolina where a few individual fish have
been collected”. There are a few cases where the species was able to be completely irradicated
in the bodies of water of which they reside. However, this is rare and once the fish is
established it is very difficult to get rid of due to its resilient nature.

Courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey

The environmental impacts of the Northern Snakehead

The Northern Snakehead is an accomplished predator and has the capacity to decimate
the environment where it resides. The fish competes heavily with native predators and in many
cases can completely displace the native species. The New York Department of Environmental
Conservation presents the environmental impact of the Northern Snakehead as:
“Northern snakehead juveniles feed on a wide variety of microscopic organisms, insect
larvae, and crustaceans on which native fish rely. As adults, they feed mostly on other
fish species, but also eat crustaceans, reptiles, mammals and small birds. Snakeheads

3
 have the potential to reduce or even eliminate native fish populations and alter aquatic
communities. Municipalities which rely on tourist dollars from recreational fishing may
suffer losses should northern snakeheads continue to invade New York waters.”

What can be done

As stated before, there are steps that the federal government of the United States has
taken to reduce the movement of the species throughout the country. Beyond the federal
government, state and local governments have set their own laws and regulations on the topic
as well. In most cases the state fish and wildlife regulatory body have set guidelines and
requirements to anglers on what to do should a Snakehead be caught. The state of Virginia
states “Anglers are required to report snakeheads kept but are not required to kill them if
caught and immediately released. Snakeheads must be dead if in possession (contained in live
well, cooler, etc.) However, the Department asks that all snakeheads be killed if possible. If an
angler wishes to keep a legally caught northern snakehead, the fish must be killed to be in
possession, and the angler must call the hotline or other DWR contact and report the angler’s
last name, date of catch, location of catch, and size”.
Another step being taken by the responsible governing bodies is the prohibition of
owning a snakehead for recreational purposes. Also stated by the state of Virginia when the
question was posed as to the legality of owning the fish “Yes, it is illegal to own one without a
permit. In 2002, the Board of Wildlife Resources added the snakehead fish to the list of
predatory and undesirable exotic species, making it illegal to possess a snakehead fish in
Virginia without a permit issued by the Department of Wildlife Resources. Federal regulations
enacted in October 2002 prohibit the importation of snakehead fish into the United States and
prohibit interstate transport of these animals. Individuals who still own a live snakehead need
to contact the Department of Wildlife Resources immediately for proper disposal of the fish.”

Conclusion
The Northern Snakehead is a threat to whatever ecosystem it is introduced into. Every
governing body over the affected area by this species has some form of procedure in action to
combat the invasion. When an invasive species has been introduced into an ecosystem there is
no ultimate action to be taken other than that of killing and reporting the species to local fish
and wildlife authorities. As this is the procedure already in place by the governing bodies it is
disturbing that the invasive species has not been irradicated. While the impact of the invasive
species has been minimized as much as possible it is evident that to reverse the invasion is
going to require further action. The main course of action that can be taken to further the goal
is to spread the word amongst anglers who are the most likely to come in contact with
snakeheads. Most fish and wildlife commissions have signs around bodies of water especially
where they are stocking streams with trout. Since many of the areas affected by the Northern

4
Snakehead are also fed by streams stock by said fish and wildlife commissions. It is a natural
conclusion that a way of spreading the word would be to place signs notifying the public of the
problem as well as the proper procedure for dispatching the snakeheads. It is still to be proven
whether or not it is possible to completely irradicate the invasive species but I am hopeful that
if additional steps are taken it is possible to remedy this threat to the local ecosystem of the
United States freshwater aquatic life.

5
References
Fuller, P.L., Benson, A.J., Nunez, G., Fusaro, A., and Neilson, M., 2022, Channa argus (Cantor,
1842): U.S. Geological Survey, Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL,
https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/factsheet.aspx?speciesid=2265 , Revision Date: 12/31/2019,
Peer Review Date: 9/22/2015, Access Date: 6/15/2022

Angler Alert: Snakeheads. (2021, December 15). DNREC Alpha.

https://dnrec.alpha.delaware.gov/fish-wildlife/fishing/invasive-species/snakeheads/

Godfrey, M. (2016, November 28). | SeafoodSource. SeafoodSource.

https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/food-safety-health/food-safety-crackdown-leads-
chinese-retailers-to-halt-sales-of-live-fish

Northern Snakehead. (2018, May 11). Virginia DWR.

https://dwr.virginia.gov/fishing/snakehead/

Invasive Northern Snakehead - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation. (n.d.). NY

Department of Environmental Conservation. https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/45470.html

Channa argus argus (northern snakehead). (n.d.). CABI Invasive Species Compendium.
https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/89026

Environmental effects of Snakeheads. (n.d.). Aquatic Community.

https://www.aquaticcommunity.com/predatory/effects.php