Ability to Respond Total:10 / 25Ability to Respond = ( Ease of Response + Tools in Place )
Confidence:High
Confidence Notes:
Impact
Spread
Notes
Score
Spread Rate
Prolific: an adult female lays up to 15K eggs up to 5X/year, multiplying easily under broad conditions.
5
Spread Amount
High survivability, can occupy many CA habitats and, as air-breathers, are capable of overland migration. Reproducing populations exist in CA, FL and MD.
5
Damage
Notes
Score
Ecological
A voracious top-level predator w/ no natural enemies, it can decimate populations of native fish, and is very aggressive protecting its young.
5
Agricultural
0
Infrastructure
0
Cultural
0
Health
0
Benefit
Notes
Score
Ecological
0
Agricultural
0
Infrastructure
0
Cultural
Popular Asian market food, and petstores.
1
Health
0
Total
14
Ability to Respond
Ease of Response
Notes
Score
Detection
Fish are detected in markets or waters bodies by sight or catch. Many interdictions occur at ports of entry (see USGS summary of U.S. importations [2001 >18k individuals].
3
Control
Aggressive early trapping in an incipient infestation may be effective; piscicide rotenone and oxygen depletion used in MD eradication effort. In CA poisoning may require durable CEQA/permitting process.
1
Tools in Place
Notes
Score
Entry
USFWS, CA, and PNW states prohibit species. FGC Section 671 bans entire family Channidae: see 2005 enforcement action.
5
Control
1
Outreach
Low awareness and high resistance of CA public and pet/food trade.
