A voracious “Frankenfish” known for its ability to “walk” on land and survive without water for extended periods has been captured on Long Island. Authorities are now cautioning that this creature poses a significant threat.
Last week, a fisherman reeled in a Northern Snakehead fish at Lily Pond in Suffolk County. In response, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is devising a strategy to tackle the potential presence of more of these resilient, sharp-toothed fish in the area.
“These fish can walk on land,” remarked Heidi O’Riordan, the regional fisheries manager for New York’s DEC.
O’Riordan further explained, “They don’t belong here; they lack natural predators, and they can disrupt our native fish populations. They tend to consume nearly anything that fits into their large mouths.”
Originally from Asia, Northern Snakehead fish are a delicacy among food enthusiasts. However, officials noted that their appearance on Long Island marks an unprecedented event.
O’Riordan suggested that the invasive species likely arrived in the area due to aquarium releases and both accidental and intentional introductions from fish markets.
The fish is so dangerous to native aquatic communities that under New York law, if a fisherman catches a northern snakehead, they have to kill it and report it to the state, the agency said.
The state DEC is now working to stop the spread of the invasive predator, which possesses python-esque markings and teeth like knives — but noted they themselves have yet to spot the Frankenfish in their search so far this week on Lake Ronkonkoma, the largest freshwater lake on Long Island.
In their efforts to locate the predators and remove them from the waters, the DEC has been “electrofishing” in the pond, which is a method where fishermen zap the water with an electrical current that temporarily stuns fish so they can be netted without injury.
