Posted on 07/22/2002 7:30:13 PM PDT by Shermy
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The land-walking snakehead fish that is native to Asia has been found in seven U.S. states and the Bush administration will announce on Tuesday a ban on U.S. imports of the predatory fish.
The snakehead, which can grow up to 3 feet long, eats other fish and can walk across land to find new sources of food in other lakes and streams. The fish can stay out of water for up to three days.
The fish came to light this summer after several snakeheads were found in a Maryland pond. The so-called Frankenfish were dumped there by a local resident who had initially imported them to make soup.
Snakeheads have been found in six other states: Hawaii, Florida, California, Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, according to the Interior Department.
Interior Secretary Gale Norton will make the announcement that 28 species of snakehead fish will be subject to an government import and trade ban, unless a special permit is granted, a department official said on Monday.
"Interstate commerce will be illegal, you can't sell them across state lines," the official said.
The fish has primarily been imported to the United States for its excellent taste, even when eaten smoked or dried.
"Soup and other culinary delights, that's how it's gotten over here," the official said.
A recipe for watercress soup with snakehead fish can be found at Chinese food recipe Web site: http://www.foodno1.com
On Tuesday, Norton was also to discuss what the government will do to help affected states destroy the fish.
Draining lakes that have snakeheads runs the risk of pumping water with some of the infant fish into nearby lakes and streams.
Maryland officials are considering poisoning a small lake where at least 80 baby snakeheads have been found.
A scientific plan this week is expected to test various chemicals on the baby snakeheads to pinpoint the best way to kill them.
"If they got into the larger (water) system, they could alter the food chain and displace other species," said John Surrick, spokesman for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
The people of northern Thailand and Myanmar (formerly Burma) believe a snakehead fish is a reincarnated sinner.
The freshwater fish has an ugly wide mouth and heavy scales, making it look like a snake's head and letting it swallow prey as large as it is.
Adults eat fish, frogs, aquatic birds and small mammals, while juvenile snakehead fish prey on earthworms, water bugs, tadpoles, dragonfly larvae and other organisms.
With sharp teeth and powerful jaws, big snakeheads can bite other fish in half
Sounds like a good case for an unrestricted open season, no bag limits. Shotgun only in built up areas, otherwise anything goes, although a .22 rimfire or a varmit rifle would seem adequate. Handguns too of course. In fact, maybe only handguns would be fun.
With sharp teeth and powerful jaws, big snakeheads can bite other fish in half
But don't get too close. :)
The description does sound a like cross between the two Senators from New York.
ugly wide mouth and heavy scales, making it look like a snake's head
Won't happen. It would give the serfs ideas.
The "aquatic growth" is where Great Lakes fish hang out: panfish, perch, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, walleye, northern....you get the idea. Once their cover is gone, they're gone. And the perch population is almost decimated for other reasons as it is.
Naaah. Just have Rosie O'Donut take a bath in there. No empty drums to dispose of, and you can just roll her over to the next contaminated body of water and start over again.
Millions of dollars have been spent to clean up after billions of quarter-sized zebra mussels that attach themselves to ships, docks and other mussels.
With all the genetic research occurring perhaps a marine biologist will create a carp that eats zebra mussels and not plankton.
Wouldn't that be nice? Then I wouldn't cut up my feet when I walk in rocky areas near the water. They'll even cut my tootsies when I'm wearing sandals.
But I just don't think this is the carp that's going to eat only the zebras and not wipe out the weedbeds we need to keep to have good game fishing.
With all the genetic research occurring perhaps a marine biologist will create a carp that eats zebra mussels and not plankton.
But I just don't think this is the carp that's going to eat only the zebras and not wipe out the weedbeds we need to keep to have good game fishing.
If somebody -- perhaps a marine biologist -- creates the right genetically controlled carp it will exist. I don't understand what specific "this carp" is that you speak of.
With a face only an Asian carp mother could love, the fish was brought from China to Arkansas fish farms in the early 1970s to improve water quality and control algae blooms. The fish escaped when aquaculture ponds adjacent to the Mississippi River flooded about a decade ago.
Making them clean it up is another matter. I don't know how they'd prove from which ponds the fish escaped & they'd all deny it.
Either way, it'd be a horrendous mess if they get into Lake Michigan and start reproducing. From Lake Michigan, it's into Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. (BTW, you can send me my gold star for naming all five Great Lakes without looking it up--and I DID NOT include Lake Champlain.)
Oh, but think of the fish stories you could tell!
There I was, no sh!t, trident in one hand, garbage lid-- er, SHIELD in the other. Slowly he circled my boat..."
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