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If snakeheads establish a population in Wylie, biologists say, it could be bad news for game fish such as largemouth bass and crappies. Snakeheads not only compete for prey with native fishes, but also will simply eat smaller competitors
Largemouths and crappies are not native, and are widespread, not threatened at all. Snakeheads could make good food and game fish as well. In fact, Snakeheads are established in Hawaii, a part of the U.S. and its considered as a game fish there! Releasing fish into the wild is not good, but people really need to get a clue.
Largemouths and crappies are not native, and are widespread, not threatened at all. Snakeheads could make good food and game fish as well. In fact, Snakeheads are established in Hawaii, a part of the U.S. and its considered as a game fish there! Releasing fish into the wild is not good, but people really need to get a clue.
Have they ever wiped out a native species in waters where they were introduced? I'm just curious. I'd never justify dumping them in U.S. or any other waters where they don't belong but I'm curious if there is any truth to them wiping out a native species or is it just just freaking out like usual.
Hi,I think that snakeheads once established in non native waters, would become part of its ecosystem,unless there was an over population,they are of no real danger for native species.
gigas12;3047398; said:
This post is in fantasy-land! (No offense, but I wanted to use fantasy-land in a sentence!)
Seriously, the world is full of ecosystems literally torn to pieces by the introduction of non-native species. By definition, for a new species to be successful it would have to replace another (or at the least seriously reduce its numbers via competition for resources or direct predation).
Just look at the history of Lake Victoria in Africa for a case study...
Hi, I dont thinks so, its been done worldwide not only in Lake Victoria,intentially and not,there is a great difference.
snakeheads have been introduced in many parts of the world , we should look at the other introductions to see what damage and spread has happened. looking at other introductions the snakeheads will not be as bad as the media would make out. yes they will have a impact as any introduction would have , but if you look at places like japan there has been no large scale devistation , certainly nothing compared to lake victoria.
five plus years now in the potomac and numbers are estamated at being very large , with large adult fish , yet even in the most hot spots we have not had complaints by anglers about the lack of native fish they are now catching. in fact snakehead catches still remain quite rare considering how well they are reported to be doing.
i personaly think this is an unfortunate situation which would of been far better for everyone if it never happened , but highly doubt that the predicted outcome of many will hold true. there are plenty of fish in that area that will happly feed on snakehead young , more food for them fish will increase there numbers and in turn keep a check on the snakehead population , yes they will spread but wipe out the fisheries i highly doubt.
even in the resevoirs of hawaii the snakeheads still share there water with native fish , they where introduces into hawaii in the early 1800s , they are also restricted to only ohau and even then not the whole island.
five plus years now in the potomac and numbers are estamated at being very large , with large adult fish , yet even in the most hot spots we have not had complaints by anglers about the lack of native fish they are now catching. in fact snakehead catches still remain quite rare considering how well they are reported to be doing.
i personaly think this is an unfortunate situation which would of been far better for everyone if it never happened , but highly doubt that the predicted outcome of many will hold true. there are plenty of fish in that area that will happly feed on snakehead young , more food for them fish will increase there numbers and in turn keep a check on the snakehead population , yes they will spread but wipe out the fisheries i highly doubt.
even in the resevoirs of hawaii the snakeheads still share there water with native fish , they where introduces into hawaii in the early 1800s , they are also restricted to only ohau and even then not the whole island.
I love this clip where a biologist working for the dept. of fish and game for Virginia acknowledges that the snakehead hysteria was blown out of proportion and that the fish is in no way 'taking over' merely establishing itself.
Just look at all of the fish that surface with the electro-fishing. Plenty of snakheads sure, but they seem outnumbered by the smaller pumpkinseeds, blue gills, etc...
John Odenkirk laying down the science and the truth:
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Just look at all of the fish that surface with the electro-fishing. Plenty of snakheads sure, but they seem outnumbered by the smaller pumpkinseeds, blue gills, etc...
John Odenkirk laying down the science and the truth:
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Hi,adding it all up,a handfull of snakeheads put in a few river systems in the US,there was no massive introduction that would lead to the extermination of other species.
I would think biologists should be more concerned about Flatheads getting into their systems then snakeheads. A 50" flathead can eat a 30" fish. Snakeheads are the perfect shape for many of our game fish to consume (stripers, bass, muskie, pike, and walleye). nonetheless the introduction of a non native species is what's grabbing the headlines.
