An invasive fish species, the snakehead fish, is threatening the fishing livelihoods of a village in northwestern Sri Lanka. This fish has been consuming the traditional fish and shellfish species in the Deduru Oya reservoir, creating significant challenges for local fishers who are adapting to these changes.
Sri Lanka’s Snakehead Fish Invasion
Over the past two years, fishermen in the region have noted a drastic decline in their typical catches. Meanwhile, the snakehead fish, a species unfamiliar to Sri Lankan waters, has surfaced in large numbers. Local officials believe these fish likely arrived via imported ornamental fish. Once they outgrew their home aquariums, they were likely released into local waters, where they thrived.
Characteristics of the Snakehead Fish
According to Dr. Kelum Wijenayake, a researcher studying this issue, snakeheads have no natural predators in Sri Lanka’s ecosystem. This makes them particularly dangerous to the local wildlife. The Deduru Oya reservoir has provided an ideal environment for the snakehead fish, with abundant food and no competing predators.
- Snakehead fish can breathe air and survive in minimal water.
- They possess sharp teeth and powerful jaws, making them effective predators.
- Unlike native species, which tend to weigh less than 1 kg, snakeheads can grow significantly larger. An example includes a 7 kg (15 lb) specimen caught by Nishantha Sujeewa Kumara.
Community Response
Ranjith Kumara, the secretary of the local fishers’ association, expressed that the first sighting of a snakehead fish occurred when a hobbyist angler successfully caught one. “Although we had heard of it before, we had never seen it until that day,” he stated.
Fishers who began working in the reservoir in 2016 report that valuable species such as small prawns have become increasingly rare. Despite an unsuccessful angler competition aimed at controlling the snakehead population, local fishers see potential in this dilemma.
Innovative Solutions and Opportunities
To address the issue, Ranjith Kumara proposed the idea of promoting angler tourism. This approach could serve as a sustainable control method while offering alternative sources of income for villagers primarily dependent on fishing and farming.
Fisherman Sujeewa Kariyawasam is adapting by producing salted dried fish from the invasive species. He has observed that while fresh snakehead fish have limited market appeal, the dried product is gaining popularity. “As demand grows, more snakeheads will be caught for production, which will help control their population,” he remarked.
The ongoing challenges posed by the snakehead fish invasion have led to a community effort to find innovative solutions while maintaining their livelihoods. Local fishers are turning a threat into an opportunity, amplifying their resilience in the face of ecological changes.
