Susquehanna snakehead removal

Susquehanna

Susquehanna

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https://www.pennlive.com/life/2021/05/thousand-pounds-of-frankenfish-removed-from-susquehanna-river.html

"More than 1,000 pounds of invasive snakeheads – sometimes known as frankenfish – and other invasive species like flathead and blue catfish were removed this spring from the Susquehanna River about 5 miles downriver from Pennsylvania.

Workers at the Conowingo Dam fish lifts caught and removed the fish, which will be provided to local food banks and used in research.

The fish lifts were installed on the east and west sides of the dam decades ago to help migrating native species of fish, such as American shad and river herring, navigate the dam-blocked Lower Susquehanna River to reach their spawning grounds upriver.

But in recent years the lifts have been catching increasing numbers of the unwelcome invasive species.

Dam operator Exelon works with state and federal agencies to help intended species access traditional spawning areas above the dam.

To help limit the spread of aquatic invasive species, state and federal resource agencies asked Exelon to temporarily halt operation of the east fish lift for the 2021 season.

The west lift consists of a series of gates and channels of water, designed to attract and trap fish in a tank-like hopper that is lifted into the air and over a sorting tank. The water and fish are released into the tank and biologists contracted by Exelon manually sort the fish, picking out shad and river herring. Those fish are put in holding tanks, then trucked in portable tanks upstream.

They also remove invasive fish species — northern snakeheads, blue catfish and flathead catfish — and hold them in a refrigerated trailer until they are transported offsite by Maryland Department of Natural Resources staff.

Through a public-private partnership with local seafood wholesaler JJ McDonnell and Co. will process the invasive fish.

To date more than 1,000 pounds of fish have been processed and given to food banks, including the Maryland Food Bank and Maryland United Way. To date, more than 1,000 pounds of fish have been processed.

“Our company recognizes the importance of the health and longevity of our native species,” JJ McDonnell Marketing Manager Hollie Snyder said, “We are happy to be a part of this exciting and beneficial project. We are proud to do our part in processing and distributing invasive species from the dam and to provide a healthy protein to those in need in our community at the same time.”

“Despite the challenges invasive species have brought, we remain committed to working with DNR on controlling this threat and operating in an environmentally responsible manner, including implementing creative solutions to ensure the safe passage of fish during the spawning season,” Conowingo Dam Plant Manager Dusty McKeown said.

“This initiative serves multiple goals, including controlling invasive fish species by harvesting them to minimize their impacts on the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem and providing protein-rich meals to those in need,” DNR Secretary Jeannie Hardaway-Riccio said. “We will also improve our collection of scientific data, which will help us better manage these invasives in the future.”

 
This sounds like a good program - fish fillets for food banks and likely some data on these invasive species with regard to age, diet, etc.
 
Fools errand as they’re already here. But don’t worry. I have a baclip plan using my johnboat.

https://m.facebook.com/groups/977366402295106?view=permalink&id=4438874762810902
 
Why not show the numbers of the other fish species that are captured in the fish lift . I guess not as juicy of a story as just writing about snakeheads . So are they releasing the blue and flathead catfish or are they not getting a trip to the food bank as well ?
 
I always love Fred's inability to stick to the subject. "yeah, but what about...?" If you have a theory, do the study. :lol:
 
o are they releasing the blue and flathead catfish or are they not getting a trip to the food bank as well ?

Yes, they are not only getting rid of the worthless frankenfish but also flathead and blue catfish.

From Pennlive.com back in May 2021

More than 1,000 pounds of invasive snakeheads – sometimes known as frankenfish – and other invasive species like flathead and blue catfish were removed this spring from the Susquehanna River about 5 miles downriver from Pennsylvania.

Workers at the Conowingo Dam fish lifts caught and removed the fish, which will be provided to local food banks and used in research.

Read the full article

https://www.pennlive.com/life/2021/05/thousand-pounds-of-frankenfish-removed-from-susquehanna-river.html

 
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