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No, FWS says, exotic invasive snakeheads should not be listed as endangered species.
Category Federal Register
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73 Fed. Reg. 48359 (Tuesday, August 19, 2008)(DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR; Fish and Wildlife Service; 50 CFR Part 17; WS–R9–IA–2008–0092; 96100–1671–0000–B6 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 90-Day Finding on a Petition To List the Northern Snakehead Fish (Channa argus) Under the Endangered Species Act)
If you come across this fish, Maryland officials say "kill it." Snakehead photo from Maryland Department of Natural Resources, also available from wiki
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce our 90-day finding on a petition to list the northern snakehead fish (Channa argus) as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We find that the petition does not present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that listing this species under the Act may be warranted. We will not initiate a status review in response to this petition and, consequently, will not consider the designation of critical habitat as petitioned.
PETITION HISTORY: On January 4, 2005, the Service received a petition dated December 30, 2004, from Alan D. Gardner, a member of the Washington County Commission in Utah, on behalf of 14 additional county officials representing 13 western States (petitioners), to list the northern snakehead fish (Channa argus) as an endangered species and to designate the entire Chesapeake Bay watershed as critical habitat. The petition clearly identified itself as a petition and included the requisite identification information as required in 50 CFR 424.14(a).
PREVIOUS FEDERAL ACTIONS: The Service published a final rule on October 4, 2002 (67 FR 62193) that added all snakehead fishes of the family Channidae, including the northern snakehead fish, to the list of injurious wildlife species under the Lacey Act (18 U.S.C. 42). In taking this action, the Service found that all snakehead fishes are injurious to the wildlife and wildlife resources of the United States. As an injurious species, the interstate transportation and importation of any live animal or viable egg of snakeheads into the United States without an injurious wildlife permit is prohibited.
KEITHINKING: Was this a joke? Sort of, but it's not very funny. Snakeheads, as an exotic invasive predator species of fish, present a potential threat to the mid-Atlantic ecosystems. The air-breathing, land crawling "Frankenfish" launched a media frenzy when discovered breeding in Maryland waters in 2002. See FONZ article on the Frankenfish. Some folks have stated that the Utah scientists were making a point about how Washingtonians use the ESA to regulate Westerners. Or maybe they just enjoyed fishing for the notoriously tough fighting fish.
Bookmark :
73 Fed. Reg. 48359 (Tuesday, August 19, 2008)(DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR; Fish and Wildlife Service; 50 CFR Part 17; WS–R9–IA–2008–0092; 96100–1671–0000–B6 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 90-Day Finding on a Petition To List the Northern Snakehead Fish (Channa argus) Under the Endangered Species Act)
If you come across this fish, Maryland officials say "kill it." Snakehead photo from Maryland Department of Natural Resources, also available from wiki
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce our 90-day finding on a petition to list the northern snakehead fish (Channa argus) as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We find that the petition does not present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that listing this species under the Act may be warranted. We will not initiate a status review in response to this petition and, consequently, will not consider the designation of critical habitat as petitioned.
PETITION HISTORY: On January 4, 2005, the Service received a petition dated December 30, 2004, from Alan D. Gardner, a member of the Washington County Commission in Utah, on behalf of 14 additional county officials representing 13 western States (petitioners), to list the northern snakehead fish (Channa argus) as an endangered species and to designate the entire Chesapeake Bay watershed as critical habitat. The petition clearly identified itself as a petition and included the requisite identification information as required in 50 CFR 424.14(a).
PREVIOUS FEDERAL ACTIONS: The Service published a final rule on October 4, 2002 (67 FR 62193) that added all snakehead fishes of the family Channidae, including the northern snakehead fish, to the list of injurious wildlife species under the Lacey Act (18 U.S.C. 42). In taking this action, the Service found that all snakehead fishes are injurious to the wildlife and wildlife resources of the United States. As an injurious species, the interstate transportation and importation of any live animal or viable egg of snakeheads into the United States without an injurious wildlife permit is prohibited.
KEITHINKING: Was this a joke? Sort of, but it's not very funny. Snakeheads, as an exotic invasive predator species of fish, present a potential threat to the mid-Atlantic ecosystems. The air-breathing, land crawling "Frankenfish" launched a media frenzy when discovered breeding in Maryland waters in 2002. See FONZ article on the Frankenfish. Some folks have stated that the Utah scientists were making a point about how Washingtonians use the ESA to regulate Westerners. Or maybe they just enjoyed fishing for the notoriously tough fighting fish.