i think these fish are kool. they're predatory, have big teeth and can survive on land/breathe air. i know a few peeps who keep them where it is permissible but irresponsible keeping can uproot ecosystems. i hope GA can keep them in check.
story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...ia/3925881002/
and here: https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/10/us/ge...rnd/index.html'Kill it immediately': Invasive fish that can breathe air, survive on land found in Georgia
An invasive fish has been marked for death in Georgia.
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources' Wildlife Resources Division confirmed someone found a northern snakehead in a pond on private property in Gwinnett County, marking the first time the invasive fish has been found in the state, according to the DNR.
The department's advice for what Georgia residents should do upon finding a northern snakehead, which can breathe air, is simple. First, residents should not release the fish. Secondly, "Kill it immediately (remember, it can survive on land) and freeze it."
Fishermen who find a northern snakehead should take pictures, note where it was caught and then report it, the Georgia DNR said in a statement.
“Our first line of defense in the fight against aquatic invasive species, such as the northern snakehead, are our anglers,” Matt Thomas, chief of fisheries for the Wildlife Resources Division, said in a statement.
“Thanks to the quick report by an angler, our staff was able to investigate and confirm the presence of this species in this water body. We are now taking steps to determine if they have spread from this water body and, hopefully, keep it from spreading to other Georgia waters," Thomas said.
According to the Department of Agriculture, the northern snakehead is native to Eastern Asia and "preys on and competes with native species."
The northern snakehead can grow to "3 feet in length," according to the Georgia DNR.
"They have a long dorsal fin that runs along their whole back, and have a dark brown blotchy appearance. They can breathe air and can survive in low-oxygenated systems," the department added.
A snakehead fish that survives on land was discovered in Georgia. Officials want it dead
(CNN)An invasive fish species that can breathe air and survive on land has been found in Georgia for the first time. And officials are warning anyone who comes into contact with the species to kill it immediately.
An angler caught the northern snakehead fish this month in a pond in Gwinnett County, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources' Wildlife Resources Division said Tuesday.
"Thanks to the quick report by an angler, our staff was able to investigate and confirm the presence of this species in this water body," said Matt Thomas, chief of fisheries for the Wildlife Resources Division. "We are now taking steps to determine if they have spread from this water body and, hopefully, keep it from spreading to other Georgia waters."
While this is the first time it's been discovered in Georgia, snakeheads have been reported in 14 states nationwide. The long, thin fish has a dark brown blotchy appearance and can grow up to three feet in length. It can also breathe air, and survive in low oxygenated systems, including on land, officials said.
A snakehead fish is considered a non-native invasive species, which means it affects native species by competing for food and habitat. In Georgia, it is illegal to possess one without a valid wild animal license.
Anglers who believe they've caught a northern snakehead should kill it immediately and freeze it, officials said.
"If possible, take pictures of the fish, including close ups of its mouth, fins and tail (and) note where it was caught," state officials said.
The United States Department of Agriculture considers the snakehead fish "injurious wildlife," and it is federally regulated.
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