Meat-Eating Fish From China Introduced to Maryland Waters by Pet Owner

Tampa Bay on line ^ | 07-12-02 | Angela Potter, Associated Press Writer

[aculeus]

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Nearly 100 meat-eating fish native to China have been found in a Maryland pond where a pet owner dumped two of them in 2000, state officials said Friday amid concern that the fish will become a major threat to native species.

The northern snakehead can grow to be 3 feet long and has a voracious appetite.

The situation is of special concern to authorities because the Little Patuxent River is about 75 yards from the pond, and northern snakeheads can live three days out of water and even walk short distances on their fins in search of food.

"They can gain a foothold here and begin to proliferate in ways that would displace native organisms," said Eric Schwaab, director of the Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service.

On Thursday, agency officials caught 99 young northern snakeheads by using an electroshock method that stuns them, causing them to float to the surface of the water.

"We've said all along that if there are juveniles in there, there would be hundreds or thousands of them," agency spokesman John Surrick said Friday.

Two adult fish were released into the Crofton pond two years ago, police said Thursday. State officials discovered the presence of the species in May, when an angler caught a suspicious fish and provided a photo for identification. Since then, biologists have caught several young fish.

State officials are setting up a scientific panel to investigate the problem and come up with recommendations to remove the snakeheads from the pond.

No charges were filed against the owner of the two original fish, whom police would not identify, because the statute of limitations has expired.

"They outgrew the capability of his care, so the individual chose to release them into what he felt was a safe environment," said Capt. Mark Sanders of the Maryland Natural Resources police.

[Stingray51]

State officials are setting up a scientific panel to investigate the problem and come up with recommendations to remove the snakeheads from the pond.

I wonder what this study will cost. Wouldn't dynamite solve this problem?

[Black Agnes]

Ping! Didn't you post an article about this not long ago? We need some Scary Fish(tm) pics! :)

[curmudgeonII]

How about sticking the pet owner in that pond for a few days?

[Holding Our Breath]

the fact that this individual will not face any consequences of her actions sickens me....

[KantianBurke]

"They outgrew the capability of his care, so the individual chose to release them into what he felt was a safe environment," said Capt. Mark Sanders of the Maryland Natural Resources police.

Why not flush'em down the toilet?

[Black Agnes]

Or enjoy then with a nice Chianti?

[GingisK]

Globalization sure has some interesting side affects. Nature is sure to kill off those NWO bastards.

[rlwinston]

Are these fish any good for sporting purposes hunting fishing??

[Lake]

[Robert A Cook PE]

Darn, there's a meat-eatin' fish in the river!

Guess we outght not swim them cows over the rapids......

Rest of the fish in the bays around MD and VA should be okay, since these new guys won't eat them, except on Fridays in Lent.

[Hacksaw]

I wonder what this study will cost. Wouldn't dynamite solve this problem?

It would be a very bad and wrong thing if someone released these fish in a water body closed of to commerce due to "endangered" junkfish.

[jumpstartme]

Wouldn't dynamite solve this problem?

Or Diazinon...

[per loin]

No charges were filed against the owner of the two original fish

Hmmm. And not identified? A Dept. of Natural Resources employee?

[Black Agnes]

Ew, thassan ugly fish! Fish dat ugly only its momma would love!

[jumpstartme]

Gee, do you think that PETA will protect a meat-eating fish? LMAO, oh, the irony.

[GovernmentShrinker]

I disagree, in the absence of any evidence that the owner had any idea that the fish could be dangerous to the environment, or any reasonable way to have known. From what I've read in other articles about these fish, there either isn't yet, or wasn't until very recently, any law against importing this fish or owning it as a pet. Such laws needs to be enacted, publicized, and given teeth pronto. Then the major penalties need to go to the parties which are bringing the fish into the country, and dumping or selling them (apparently they are sometimes brought in accidentally with shipments of other fish, and survive longer than other fish would because of their unusual ability to live out of the water for up to three days).

[Lake]

It can stay out of water for 3 days and walk on land to another pond.

[mercy]

Hope they taste good and give a good pull cause if that pond is only a few yards from a river .... they're here to stay.