The introduction of non native northern snakeheads into waterways of the

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 109^th 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.”

Click on the follow links below for information concerning Snakehead meeting agenda, Management plans, and other related documents.

Snakehead Meeting Agenda Snakehead Control Plan

circ_1251_courtenay.pdf caulerpa_plan.pdf Mitten_Crab_Plan.pdf

Mitten_Crab_NMP_Implementation_Table.pdf RUFFE CONTROL PROGRAM.pd

pbsw_b118_02.407-415.pdf http://www.seagrant.umn.edu/fish/GenBiocontrol.pdf

The following are emails sent from John Odenkirk (VA Game & Inland Fisheries) in regards to Snakehead fish and information sent from research scientists Dr. Nakai Katsuki and Dr. M. J. Grygier with the Lake Biwa Museum in Japan.

Dr. Nakai Katsuki Dr. Mark Grygier

Channa argus in Lake Biwa, Japan

The following pdf file contains a description of nematode parasites in central China

My Webs/nematode parasites in central China.pdf

Links to jpeg images of parasites found in Snakeheads in Maryland.

nematode.jpg nematode1.jpg snakehead_anterior1.jpg snakehead_gross1.jpg

Parasite Information

Parasite email Dr. Grygier and Dr. Moravec

Snakeheads found in Delaware

Snakeheads in DE

Fact sheet sent from Todd Richards, MA Division of Fisheries and Wildlife

MA Fact Sheet