By james art 
DNR survey: Other species of fish decrease after the arrival of Chesapik Chana in Maryland Waters
Fish communities have changed significantly in the drainage of the Blackwater River
Maryland’s Natural Resources Department Biologists conducted winter net studies on FYKE at The Little Blackwater River in 2019. Maryland DNR photo by Stephen Bager,
Chesapiq Chamba’s adults were first documented in Maryland, thousands of miles away from their local habitat in East Asia in 2002. Subsequent illegal introductions and natural dispersal in the decades after arriving in Maryland expanded the scope of species. A new study by the Maryland Natural Resources Department confirms the negative impact that this invasive species has on other fish and the ecosystem.
Comparison of fish communities in the Blackwater drainage near Cambridge before and after the introduction of an unchanged CHESAPIC, also known as the Northern Nice After the introduction.
Department of Biologist for Fishing Natural Resources Dr. Joe Lav and co-authors Joshua J. Newhard and Megan Walker posted their discoveries in The Online Early Edition of the Magazine for Fish and Wildlife Management In November 2024
Since its arrival, Chesapike Chana colonizes an average of three new underwater turns in Chesapik Bay annually, according to a 2018 study on Love and Newhard.
“We know that this is an opportunistic, a predatory species that could affect local fishery populations, but before that study whether their predation has changed the composition of water communities is unknown,” Lav said.
A factor that helps them effectively identify populations is reproduction. A A recent study conducted by love Found that these fish can release tens of thousands of eggs and can spawn more than once a year.
The authors acknowledged the possibility of comparing fishery communities in the drainage of the Black House before and after the introduction of the predator, as a Pisces inventory in the area is held in the area. Chesapeake Channa was first reported in Blackwater in 2012. And today it is a popular fishing area for recreation for them, with some limited trade harvest.
During a 2018 study, fisheries biologists Joseph Lav and Jim Thompson (right to the left) examine Chesapik Chana, caught in the Black Tour River near Harriet Tubman State Park. Maryland Park Rangers Dana Patera and Angela Creshow (from left to right), then state park managers watch. Maryland DNR photo by Stephen Bader.
In 2018 and 2019, biologists took samples of six sites using the same methods as the Fisheries Community studies carried out in Blackwater in 2007 and 2008 to learn whether the number of species or share of these species changed S They conducted additional studies between 2021 and 2023 to justify their discoveries.
Prior to the introduction of Chesapeake Channa, the three most common species, in order, were white perch, brown Bill and black crap. Six years later, the three most common species were plain carp, dumbbell pattern and then white perch. While most of the types of experienced downturns, biologists note that the biggest reduction is in the popular prey for Chesapik Chana like black crap, white perch, blue gown and pumpkin seed.
The authors find that changes in water quality cannot explain the changes observed in the fish community. Instead, predation or shift probably explained the observed changes.
Invasive species management costs more than $ 100 billion a year. In Maryland, water wild animals such as blue crabs and striped bass play important roles in the economy and culture, and invasive species can affect these industries and local ecosystems. Other studies have shown that once invasive fish have been detected, they cause a widespread decrease in biomass. This study examines changes in a waterway where Chesapik Chana is thriving, but the effects may not be the same everywhere. The impacts of invasive species depend on its abundance and ecosystem, both significantly different in the rivers and lakes of the waterfall of the Bay of Chesapike.
Sport fishing and commercial collection of invasive fish have become popular in Maryland and help the state manage the population. Chesapeake Channa and Blue Satfish taste soft and have a firm texture, making them great fish to eat. Chesapkeae Channa is available on the menus and local seafood markets seasonally in the spring and summer. No season or limit for collecting Chesapeake Channa, and Maryland DNR has many resources available On his website For fishermen who are interested in learning more.