Invasive Northern Pike Discovery is a major concern for Alaska Fish and Games biologists. Parker Bradley, a Fisheries Biologist, first spotted the fish last spring while testing boats in Finger Lake.
Bradley and his team waited until winter to assess the situation as the initial discovery was made during the spawning period. They conducted a follow-up assessment to determine the number of Northern Pike in the lake.
So far we haven’t seen any juveniles Bradley said, referring to the results of their netting efforts. The absence of juvenile Northern Pike makes it difficult to determine whether the fish are established in the region.
However, even a small number of Northern Pike can dramatically impact the lake’s ecosystem. As apex predators, they can heavily prey on native species, altering the balance of the environment.
To address the issue Bradley’s team is focussing on netting the Northern Pike to remove them from the lake if this effort fails, they may need to consider alternative methods.
Furthermore, the team is working diligently to avoid using chemical treatment which would be a last resort. By removing the Northern Pike through netting they hope to prevent the fish from becoming established in the lake.
Additionally, altering the stock of the fish within the lake could be an option. This would involve introducing new species to compete with Northern Pike.
The Invasive Northern Pike Discovery highlights the importance of monitoring and addressing aquatic invasive species. The Alaska Fish and Game team is working tirelessly to prevent the spread of these invasive fish.
News story originally published by Alaska’s News Source.
