Every year, thousands of tourists, canoeists, and fishing enthusiasts descend on Saskatchewan's many lakes, but the provincial government has identified one potential guest who is absolutely not welcome - the northern snakehead.
The Ministry of Environment announced last week plans to ban the import, possession and sale of aquarium fish designated aquatic invasive species, including the northern snakehead.
Environment Minister Dustin Duncan said historically regulations have not applied to aquarium fish because they're mostly tropical and unable to survive Saskatchewan's climate.
The northern snakehead, however, is hardy enough for prairie winters, and if it enters a local river or lake, it will out-compete native fish for food and disrupt the ecological balance.
The species is native to China and Siberia and has been sold as an aquarium fish, but officials are concerned owners may be surprised by the size of the adult fish and dispose of it by releasing it into a lake, where the aggressive fish will compete with native fish - and win. In addition, snakeheads carry a disease that can spread to other freshwater species.
While regulations to ban the fish are being amended, Sask. Environment has asked pet stores throughout the province not to import or sell northern snakeheads.
Stephen Anderson, owner of Country Feed and Pet, said he's never sold the northern snakehead, and none of his suppliers have ever offered it.
"I think it's a black market fish, actually," he said.
"Until I got the letter from Sask. Environment, I'd never even seen a northern snakehead or heard of it."
Anderson said he received a call last week from a customer asking about the northern snakehead, but it was an out-of-town number, and when he told the caller he didn't sell that fish, the caller hung up.
Even if the northern snakehead weren't about to become a banned species, Anderson said he wouldn't want to sell it.
"Anything invasive like that, we wouldn't even be interested in," he said.
So far the presence of the northern snakehead in Saskatchewan is believed to be isolated to a pet store in Prince Albert that was selling the fish for a couple of months - six fish were sold and all six are accounted for, said Sask. Environment spokesperson Tanya Johnston.
"We believe we've contained the situation," she said, adding none of the fish are believed to have entered Saskatchewan waterways so far.
Normally, it takes about two to three months to amend regulations, but this one is being rushed and should come into effect at an earlier date, Johnston said.
Ontario has already banned possession of the northern snakehead, and Manitoba prohibits bringing it into the province. No other provinces have restrictions in place.
Northern Snakehead
-the long, thin, cylindrical fish has a flattened head with scales like a snake and can grow up to one metre in size
-young fish range in colour from gold-tinted brown to grey, while older fish are dark brown with black spots
-the fish can survive freezing temperatures by hibernating in the mud for up to 193 days a year
-it lives up to eight years
-adult snakeheads feed mainly on other fish and sometimes small reptiles, mammals and birds
-it can breathe air and survive for days out of water
-there is no effective way to eradicate the species
*source: Sask. Environment
