An eel-like fish is catching the attention of authorities, and they want you to be on the lookout.
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The Asian Swamp Eel has established a population in Florida and is considered an “ecological risk,” according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).
Native to eastern and southeastern Asia, this fish was introduced to South Florida and can now be seen swimming through our canals, wetlands, and marshes.
The swamp eel is a drought-resistant, obligate air-breathing fish, with the ability to burrow into mud, allowing it to persist through the dry and wet season, says the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS).
This fish, although not classified as invasive by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), has been observed to negatively impact the populations of certain species when found in the same area.
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A study from 2023 performed in the Taylor Slough, a patch of marsh habitat within the Everglades where swamp eels where present, showed that “populations of two crayfishes collapsed by >95%, two fishes declined by >80%, two fishes had intermediate declines of 44–66%, and three species remained unchanged,” stated the .
One of the bigger challenges surrounding this elusive fish is their nocturnal behavior, along with their tendency to stay hidden under the bottom of muddy canals and shallow wetlands, according to UF/IFAS.
At first, considered to have “little potential for ecological or economic impacts,” researchers say that observed results do not bode well for freshwater ecosystems and Everglades restoration, says the .
The FWC asks that you report sightings of nonnative species, such as the swamp eel, using the free IveGot1 app or the web form at IveGot1.org.
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