Northern snakehead (NSH) are expanding their territory, legend and controversy. Illegal introductions continue and efforts to eradicate have slowed as the sport of pursuing snakeheads gains ground.
A recent Maryland DNR study reports a decline in NSH target prey where populations of snakeheads are growing. The study, using a process of elimination, considered factors including environmental impacts to explain some of these population changes. The missing fish coincide with US Fish and Wildlife Service NSH stomach content studies including killifish, sunfish and perch.
This suggests NSH are eating themselves out of house and home as they colonize an average of three new Chesapeake Bay sub watersheds per year. Bowfishing charter boat guides and anglers reporting tagged snakeheads furnish additional snakehead data. This incentivizes harvest and provides data.
Maryland DNR biologist Dr. Joe Love adds there’s no evidence NSH have caused massive extinctions, as once feared. Impact on prey populations in some areas is common for predators in an ecosystem. Aided by prolific reproduction, releasing tens of thousands of eggs, and spawning more than once a year, it appears the potential impact of NSH is increasing. Love says federal and other state regulations can limit NSH spread.
Some feel the angling challenge of fighting a big northern snakehead should be respected, promoted and protected, desiring sportfish status. Maryland DNR has taken a neutral position on catch-and-release fishing, encouraging harvest whenever possible. Love adds, no jurisdiction is considering snakeheads as a sportfish or regulating protection.
Renaming snakeheads Chesapeake Channa, might make this firm fish more appetizing as a culinary main course.
Love says commercial harvesting helps manage the population. Chesapeake Channa is on menus and at local seafood markets, seasonally available in spring and summer. There’s no season or limit for harvesting Chesapeake Channa.
Maryland DNR has partnered with a fish processor, US Fish & Wildlife Service, and Constellation Energy, to remove snakeheads from Conowingo Dam and process them for food for people. This helped prevent NSH introduction above and below the dam.
Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) concurs there have been subtle (non-significant) decreases in Potomac River NSH numbers.
DWR biologist John Odenkirk agrees the decline is likely a combination of ecosystem assimilation and exploitation via commercial and recreational harvest, including increased bowfishing. However, Odenkirk reports angler harvesting is declining as they treat NSH like black bass and practice catch and release. DWR is killing snakeheads primarily for otolith extraction to determine what drives population variability.
Invasive management costs the US more than $100 billion per year. Love adds the DNR has not ignored blue cats as they also threaten resources in different ways because of their biology, abundance and distribution within the water column and the bay watershed.
The department invests far more into blue catfish management than NSH. On the other hand, snakeheads have been on the radar since 2002 and there’s an active angling population removing them. As for NSH eradication, Love doesn’t think anyone is seriously discussing that, though prevention has been a cornerstone for years.
Author Capt. Steve Chaconas is Potomac bass fishing guide & freelance writer. Potomac River reports: www,nationalbass.com. YouTube video channel NationalBassGuide.
