Effective strategies to control a hypothetical northern snakehead (channa argus) invasion in Singapore Chia Guo Cong 11 November 2011

Introduction

The introduction of an invasive fish species in Singapore, intentional or unintentional, is highly likely, owing to Singapores open trade policy and its location as a hub of air and shipping routes (Ng et al., 1992). As of 1992, there were 37 freshwater fishes, prawns and shellfish species introduced to Singapore (Ng et al., 1992). However, the Government has not published any plans to counter such an invasion. In this paper, I will describe a contingency plan to control a generic invasive fish species, using the northern snakehead (Channa argus) as an example.

Northern snakehead

The northern snakehead is a voracious predator of fishes, small reptiles and crustaceans (Okada, 1960; Courtenay & Williams, 2004). It favours shallow stagnant waters and muddy swamps but may also be found in reservoirs and canals, which are prevalent in Singapore (Dukravets, 1992). Its invasive behavior makes it a potentially significant alien predator which can disrupt the native ecosystem balance (Courtenay & Williams, 2004). The ecological impact can be especially severe if the snakehead colonises water bodies with poor native species diversity or lacking in native predators (Courtenay & Williams, 2004). In the context of Singapores ecological diversity, a proactive control approach is thus especially pertinent and urgent. However, the snakeheads rapid reproduction rateit begins spawning at two years old (Okada,

1960)makes complete eradication difficult. Sufficient population control is thus a more realistic goal.

Evaluation of Methods

Chemical treatment combines cost-efficiency, ease of administration and immediate and certain efficacy (Gherardi & Angliolini, 2004). It is the most common method in eradicating snakehead infestations in enclosed water bodies such as ponds, reporting 100% mortality within an hour (Phan et al., 2003). However, chemical control may not be appropriate for Singapore because Singapores waterways are closely interlinked and may be linked to potable sources. Moreover, administering poison to water bodies would not be agreeable to nearby residents, as was the case in a snakehead invasion in New York (NYDEC, 2008).

Regarding biological methods, till now, no suitable predator has been found to prey specifically on snakeheads. Taking snakeheads aside, in choosing a predator to eliminate a generic invasive fish species, several factors have to be considered, including the predators impact on other species and the environment. For instance, the introduced predator may invade other native species. Hence, small-scale tests should be performed to gauge the predators impact before its introduction.

Physical methods, including line-and-hook fishing and using large fishing nets (seining), require substantial manpower and costs (Gherardi & Angliolini, 2004). They may be especially appropriate for small-scale infestations and where large volunteer groups can be mobilized (Gherardi & Angiolini, 2004). This may be especially relevant for Singapore where nature societies frequently engage in structured volunteering projects (Kisha and Habibul, 2004) and where recreational anglers abound

(Fishingkaki.com, 2007). Hence, physical methods will be the key element in the proposed contingency plan.

Proposed Preventive Measures

A key measure is to intensively study the growth and reproductive behavior of the snakehead, commonly found in temperate zones, in tropical Singapore (Courtenay & Williams, 2004; Gherardi & Angliolini, 2004) through small-scale experiments and sampling. For instance, if the snakehead spawns throughout the year, the contingency plan will be executed every six months. If the spawning period spans only a few months, the plan will be executed in the two months preceding the spawning period. This is because in the latter case, Jiao et al. (2009) found that targeting the snakeheads right before they spawn is more effective and cost-efficient than all-year species management.

Another key preventive step is to conduct a species risk assessment to generate more effective and efficient preventive risk management measures (CBD, 2001). Copp et al. (2005) offer an excellent, comprehensive risk assessment template for invasive freshwater fish. If the snakehead is assessed to be risky, the following contingency plan will be executed immediately following sighting reports.

Proposed Contingency Plan

The authorities will first quantify the extent of invasion and the degree of isolation of the invaded area using quantitative sampling techniques such as electroshocking (ENSR International, 2005).

As Singapores waterways are well-interconnected, the infestation will be maximally enclosed with multiple artificial fish barriers (Carpenter & Terrell, 2005). Next, the most crucial step will be executed in two simultaneous approaches. One, the authorities will engage seining professionals to catch the bulk of the snakeheads. Two, they will also coordinate community efforts in small-scale fishing, involving nature societies and recreational anglers. Finally, the snakehead population will be re-sampled to review the efficacy of the program.

Discussion

Despite its efficacy, efficiency and applicability in Singapore, the above plan has several limitations. First, the fish barriers may restrict the migration and spawning of non-target species (Vlez-Espino et al., 2011). Moreover, these barriers can be costly. Hence, to minimize the length of barriers needed, early detection is critical. Furthermore, early detection improves the chances of success (Rejmanek & Pitcairn, 2002). The authorities should share relevant information about the snakehead among public workers to cast a wider information net and precipitate early detection. Therefore, close cooperation among residents, community groups and the government is vital to the plans success.

More importantly, the local authorities lack of experience in controlling invasive fish species may result in a delayed response and poor judgment, affecting the plans efficacy. Hence, experts who have dealt with fish invasions elsewhere should be consulted in formulating the plan. Furthermore, the presence of a contingency plan would expedite the plans execution following detection, enhancing its efficacy.

Conclusion

In this paper, using the northern snakehead as an example, I evaluated the feasibility of various control methods and outlined a broad, skeletal framework to control the snakehead. The points expounded on are not exhaustive. Nevertheless, they can aid the government in the design of a formal contingency plan to control a typical freshwater fish invasion. In addition, other factors of an invasion, including presence of other species, habitat type, area of invasion, and impact on native species, can vary greatly and should be examined thoroughly before the action plan is designed.

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