Northern Snakehead Caught In Sullivan County
The Northern Snakehead is an invasive fish in our region which is native in Southeast Asia and Tropical Africa that has been found in various parts of the US. Within New York they have been found in the New York City area until recently when a Northern Snakehead was caught in the Delaware River near Callicoon in Sullivan County.
The Northern Snakehead was first discovered in New York waters in 2006, where it was thought to be released due to aquarium dumping and escaping from fish markets. The Northern Snakehead was also found in other tributaries of the Wallkill River which the NYS chemically treated waters which killed the Snakeheads in the early 2000s.
The Northern Snakehead is actually a very aggressive fish which threatens native fish where the Snakehead is located. If the Snakehead is not stopped, it can easily spread across the region. The Snakehead can reproduce rather quickly, but doubling it’s population in just 15 months. The fish is also a very hardy which can actually breath air and can live outside of water for several days.
If you happen to catch a Northern Snakehead, the NYS DEC advises this:
• DO NOT RELEASE IT.
• Kill it immediately and freeze it.
• If possible, take pictures of the fish, including close ups of its mouth, fins and tail.
• Note where it was caught (waterbody, landmarks or GPS coordinates).
• Report it to your regional DEC fisheries office (http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7927.html) or to DEC’s Invasive
Species Bureau (see below).
• You can also submit a report through iMapinvasives at www.nyimapinvasives.org.
Last Updated on October 20, 2020 by Fish HV Contributors
