RELEASE: Jan. 5, 2012 – Volume XLV, No. 1

Snakehead. The name sounds foreboding, especially for those with \”ophidiophobia,\” otherwise known as fear of snakes. But this freshwater fish isn’t frightening because of its name; it doesn’t have a long, slithering body, venom-filled fangs or a coil-and-strike pose.

Instead, the Northern Snakehead is scary because it’s an alien invasive fish with the potential to disrupt the ecology of New Jersey’s rivers, streams and lakes by decimating native species. And it may be headed for the Pine Barrens, home to some of the most pristine waters and robust native fish populations in this state we’re in.

The snakehead threat is being taken seriously by the nonprofit New Jersey Academy for Aquatic Sciences, which plans to launch a research project to scientifically assess the damage the Northern Snakehead could cause if it takes hold in the Pine Barrens.