The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) is actively working to prevent the spread of invasive species, particularly the round goby, in the state’s waterways.
The non-native fish has already reached as far as the Hudson River near Troy and has the potential to severely impact freshwater ecosystems, according to Steven Pearson, a research scientist with the NYSDEC.
The main focus for the DEC is to prevent the round goby from entering Lake Champlain, which borders New York and Vermont, but the agency urges all boaters and fishers to identify and report any catches of the species.
The DEC recommends thoroughly cleaning and drying boats and watercraft before moving them from one body of water to another to help prevent the spread of invasive species. For more information, the DEC’s webpage on invasive aquatic species can be visited.
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