Maryland removes thousands of invasive fish from state waters

CONOWINGO, MD—The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has announced the removal of thousands of invasive fish from Maryland waters. The fish posed a threat to native species, according to a press release from the DNR.

The fish were removed at the Conowingo Dam, which is located on the Susquehanna River. The dam has a fish lift that allows migrating species to move upstream during their spawning season. When the fish enter the lift, they are collected by hand and sent to local food banks.

Over the course of the 2024 season, which lasted from March to June, the DNR removed over 18,000 pounds of invasive fish from Maryland waters. Over 2,100 Chesapeake Channa, also known as northern snakehead, were removed from the dam. This is more than double the number of Chesapeake Channa removed in any year since the program began in 2021. The DNR also kept some of the fish for outreach events and scientific research.

“Invasive fish pose a significant threat to ecologically and economically important native species in Maryland,” said Branson Williams, Maryland DNR’s Invasive Fishes Program Manager. “The removal effort at Conowingo Dam is a prime example of how partnership can amplify our ability to manage invasive fishes and limit their spread.”

The DNR urges anglers to harvest invasive fish when they catch them and report catches on the Invasive Species Tracker form on the DNR website.

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.

Photo via Maryland DNR