Proposed channa ban in the UK!!!?
- Thread starter justarn
- Start date
The northern snakehead I would have thought could survive in our climate.
A few other sp might cope alright in the south West, Cornwall, Devon.
If there is a chance they could survive then a ban seems a good idea, I prefer to see native spp in our rivers.
A few other sp might cope alright in the south West, Cornwall, Devon.
If there is a chance they could survive then a ban seems a good idea, I prefer to see native spp in our rivers.
But are they actually present? Is this a preemptive ban? I know the U.S. Has good reason, because they decimate native species. It's unfortunate we can't have nice things because of irresponsible people.
All it takes are two ignorant people to let go a couple northern Chinese snake heads in a mild climate like the UK when they outgrew a tank, or put them in a pond that overflows into river during a heavy rain, and native species start disappearing.
I lived next to Lake Michigan which for decades had quite a diverse fishery, a few years ago the only near shore species I could regularly see, was the Asian Goby.
I lived next to Lake Michigan which for decades had quite a diverse fishery, a few years ago the only near shore species I could regularly see, was the Asian Goby.
Agreed with ^^, everyone thinks the UK climate is moderate but during winter we have proper freezes down to minus double digits... I severely doubt any snakehead (accept the Argus) would survive long and certainly not to the point of breeding. Even Devon and Cornwall is highly unlikely... but then again I never credited the government with an abundance of common sense (to busy looking after themselves and their friends) so stupid, ill advised reactionary moves are highly likely!
I remember going through this around 20 years ago in the USA. States began taking the appropriate approach and banning based on risk. But then the federal government decided enough and banned both Channa and Parachanna genus. It is hard for officials to identify species within the same genus, they would rather just ban the whole lot, easier to enforce.