Pennsylvania anglers advised to catch, kill invasive Northern Snakehead fish

An invasive fish found in Pennsylvania fresh waters has made the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission advisory list.

In a release Wednesday, the agency recommends anyone reeling in a Northern Snakehead anywhere in Pennsylvania report their catch and dispose of the fish.

The advisory applies to the lower Susquehanna River and elsewhere in the state and follows numerous snakehead captures in the Conowingo Reservoir this summer.

Northern Snakeheads can breathe air and survive outside of the water for long periods of time, according to the release.

“It is recommended to kill them by removal of the head, removal of the gill arches or removal of internal organs,” the release said.

Describing the fish as a “voracious predator,” the commission said Northern Snakeheads may cause declines in sport fishing such as panfish and bass.

“Anglers play a critical role in controlling the spread of this invasive species by harvesting and reporting any fish caught. We’re counting on their cooperation,” said Mike Parker, PFBC communications director.

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Northern Snakeheads are native to parts of Korea, Russia and China and were first reported in the U.S. in the Mid-Atlantic region in the early 2000s.

A northern snakehead was caught in the Monongahela River in 2019.