Eye on Round Goby
Round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) are a small bottom-dwelling fish from the Black and Caspian Seas. It was first sighted in 1990 in the St. Clair River in Michigan and has since been spreading throughout the Great Lakes and Central New York. In 2021 it was discovered at the confluence of the Mohawk and Hudson rivers near the first lock of the Champlain Canal.
Round goby have a voracious appetite, are aggressive, reproduce rapidly, has and can outcompete native fish populations. They are notorious bait stealers and prey on the eggs and young of sportfish making them a nuisance to anglers. The risk this invasive species poses to New York fisheries highlights the importance of clean, drain, dry practices and purchasing live fish bait from licensed sellers only (see baitfish regulations).
View the Round Goby webpage for more information on the impacts of this invasive fish and how you can help stop the spread.
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