Missouri Department of Conservation warns of invasive Snakehead fish

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., (KBSI) — The Missouri Department of Conservation is reminding anglers that it is illegal to import, export, sell, purchase, or possess a northern snakehead fish in Missouri.

The department is also asking anglers to report any catches and sightings of the invasive species.

The northern snakehead fish is a long-bodied, predatory fish that can grow up to 3 feet long with python-like coloration and pattern.

It has a snake-like appearance and can breathe air, allowing it to survive in poorly oxygenated water or out of water for several days if its skin stays moist.

The fish can also slither across land to return to water.

Anglers are advised to properly identify the fish, as it can be confused with the native bowfin. If caught, the snakehead fish should not be released.

Instead, it should be killed by severing the head, gutting it, or placing it in a sealed plastic bag.

The fish should be photographed and its location noted, and the catch should be reported to the Missouri Department of Conservation’s Southeast Regional Office.

The northern snakehead fish is an aggressive predator that can reduce populations of native sportfish.

The first recorded sighting of the fish in Missouri was in 2019 in Dunklin County.

The Missouri Department of Conservation is working to educate anglers about the threat posed by the invasive species and to gather information on its location in the state.