Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Today

Non-native Fish Threatens Maryland Pond

Aired July 10, 2002 - 11:28   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And we go from space to an invasion from the water by creatures being called "alien fish."

Our environment correspondent, Natalie Pawelski, has their story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NATALIE PAWELSKI, CNN ENVIRONMENT CORRESPONDENT: What looks like peaceful pond is actually ground zero for an invasion. Carnivorous Chinese fish marching on Washington, or at least, potentially, walking around nearby.

PAUL DIMAURO, FISHERMAN: When I took it out of his mouth, he opened it and he had some mean looking teeth. I was like, I better not stick my finger in that one.

PAWELSKI: The creature in question, the Northern Snakehead. It may not look particularly fierce, though, at this size, but it grows into a ravenous gobbler of frogs and other fish. And it can actually ambulate, breathe air and move over land from pond to pond.

MIKE SLATTERY, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE: If it is kept moist, it can live for very extended periods of time out of water.

PAWELSKI: Authorities say the Snakeheads seem to be breeding and must not be allowed to leave this pond alive.

ERIC SCHWAAB, MARYLAND FISHERIES SERVICE: Large scale electro- shocking is something that we can employ if we're able to deal with this, you know, the vegetation. Draining the pond would be one option. Poison is a technique that's used on a limited basis.

PAWELSKI: In an age when tolerance is a virtue, officials make no bones about species profiling in this case. They are targeting this fish because it is an alien.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Very bad.

PAWELSKI: Not that kind of alien, although you can sort of see the resemblance.

But in the same way movie creatures from other galaxies have unusual appetites and unstoppable powers, alien species -- plants and animals that end up where they don't belong -- can feast on natives that don't have any natural defenses. And the alien's natural predators aren't around to keep them in check.

For now, Maryland has posted wanted posters, asking anglers, if they see any Northern Snakeheads, to terminate them.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If they're not going to do the job, we will.

PAWELSKI: Natalie Pawelski, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com