SNAKEHEAD CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT PLAN

 

The introduction of non native northern snakeheads into waterways of the United States has received a great deal of media, public and political attention. Unfortunately, this awareness has not served to prevent further spread of snakehead into waterways. Snakeheads have been introduced in several areas of the Northeast including tributaries of the Potomac River below Washington D.C. twenty were captured in this area in 2004 and over 300 individuals were captured in 2005. These fish are successfully foraging, utilizing available habitat, reproducing and now appear to be firmly established in the Potomac River. Congress has requested that the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) address concerns about the introduction of Northern Snakeheads. The Senate report 109-084, Energy & Water Appropriations Bill 2006, of the 109th Congress states; “the Committee is concerned by the recent discoveries of northern snakeheads in the Potomac River and its potential impacts on native fish populations through predation, food and habitat competition, or the introduction of diseases and parasites. The Committee directs the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to submit a report to Congress no later than 180 days after enactment on steps the Agency is taking to identify, contain, and eradicate the species.”

The task of this working group (WG) is to develop a control and management plan. This group includes representatives from state and federal agencies, industry, law enforcement and other interested stakeholders from the affected jurisdictions. Background documents are available online at http://www.fws.gov/northeast/marylandfisheries/ by clicking on the tab labeled snakeheads or they can be provided on a CD.

The focus of this plan will be to identify specific control actions for existing introductions in the Northeast and to identify prevention, early detection and rapid response, control, research and outreach measures for the entire United States. Your participation in this effort would be greatly appreciated.

 

 

 

Steve Minkkinen, SCMP coordinator

USFWS Maryland Fishery Resources Office

177 Admiral Cochrane Drive

Annapolis , MD 21629

410 573-4506 office

410 271 4976 cell

e-mail - steve_minkkinen@fws.gov

USFWS Chesapeake Bay Field Office

177 Admiral Cochrane Drive , Annapolis , MD

February % & #

Time: Monday 10:00-4:00, Tuesday 8:00-3:00

AGENDA

Day 1:

10:00   Welcome – Steve Minkkinen, USFWS

10:15   Snakehead introductions in the U.S. - Steve Minkkinen

10:45 Process & timetable for developing management plan – Steve Minkkinen

11:00 Components included in management plans – Steve Minkkinen

11:15 Goals and Objectives of SCMP:

1. Control measures for current introductions

rapid response, impacts (biological and economic) assessment, controlling spread, population assessment and managment, innovative control measures,  human factors

2. National prevention strategy

Law enforcement: sources, introductions, legal actions (local and federal), additional enforcement concepts for prevention.

Prevention, early detection and rapid response, control, research and outreach measures

12:00-1:00 Lunch

1:00 – 3:00 Breakout groups

Purpose is to define issues associated with: Prevention, Monitoring, Control, Education and Research

3:00 – 4:00 Discussion

Day 2:

8:00 Review of progress during day 1

9:00 Review of working draft

10:00 Assigning tasks to fill gaps

11:30 Future meetings

12:00 Adjorn

 

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