Asian swamp eel in Bayou St. John

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has verified that the Asian swamp eel, an invasive species native to Asia, has been found in Bayou St. John in New Orleans. LDWF sampling has found the eel in several locations of the bayou. The impact of the Asian swamp eel on native species is not yet known. Its diet consists of fish, shrimp, crawfish, frogs and other aquatic invertebrates, such as worms and insects. It primarily lives in freshwater. LDWF will continue to study its effects on local species. LDWF does not know how the eels found their way into Louisiana waters, but the most likely case is through an accidental release from an aquarium dump. Possession of live Asian swamp eels is prohibited under state law, and it is illegal to release a live Asian swamp eel into state waterways. Over the years, similar Asian swamp eel species have been found in New Jersey, Hawaii, Georgia, and Florida. (Source: LDWF 06/27/19)