On The Water: 'Goby, Oh, Woe Is Me,' NY Fights An Invasive Fish

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Serious efforts to protect New York's waters from the round goby, a dangerous invasive aquatic species, have entered a second year, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and Canal Corporation have announced.

The round goby is in the Hudson River and state environmental officials are taking aggressive action to keep the invasive species from the Caspian Sea from obliterating native species on a march towards Lake Champlain.

The round goby was spotted in the river near Poughkeepsie and it changed everything.

The small fish is actually kind of cute with its oversized eyes and curious mouth, but environmental officials say there is nothing cute about the crisis these unwelcome visitors are creating in their wake.

The round goby is one of the biggest threats to New York waters, particularly Lake Champlain. Native to Europe and Asia, this fish was introduced in the Great Lakes in 1990 and spread throughout the lakes' system, according to a new DEC report. The round goby reproduces quickly, outcompetes native fish species for food and habitat, eats the young and eggs of other fish and can transport botulism up the food chain to waterfowl.

"As we approach the season opening this spring, DEC continues to work with our partners at Canal Corporation to mitigate the risk of round goby and other invasive species entering our waterways," DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said. "DEC and our partners at Canal Corporation have strategies in place to protect our fisheries, wildlife, and economy from the potential spread of the round goby and other invasive species consistent with the State's rapid response plan. Working together, DEC and Canal Corporation are advancing education and outreach encouraging canal users to follow best practices to safeguard these waterways. DEC will continue to actively work to protect these waterways with ongoing monitoring and management to ensure early detection and treatment of potential new invasions."

The NYSDEC and the NYS Canal Corporation continue to implement a comprehensive effort, including a rapid response plan (PDF), to combat the potential spread of the round goby to the Lake Champlain Basin following the discovery of the fish in the Hudson River near the city of Troy in July 2021.

Aquatic invasive species (AIS) can out-compete native fish species, disrupting ecosystems and damaging local economies dependent on recreation, according to the agency. These harmful species have been found in many of New York's lakes, ponds and rivers, and can be transported from waterbody to waterbody on watercraft, equipment and bait. Research shows that recreational watercraft are the greatest vector for transport and introduction of these invasive species throughout the United States.

"As we prepare for the upcoming navigation season on New York's Canals, we are reaffirming our commitment to mitigating the potential spread of the round goby to the Lake Champlain Basin," Canal Corporation Director Brian Stratton said. "Our ongoing partnership with DEC and Champlain Canal stakeholders will ensure the actions we collectively take now protect our waterways for the future. We are confident that the strategies we deploy through the State's rapid response plan will ensure the Champlain Canal remains a key driver of economic and tourism activity in the region."

The NYSDEC and Canal Corporation are undertaking the aggressive actions in coordination with Vermont and Canada:

• Perform immediate and ongoing field research on the Champlain Canal: In coordination with the Lake Champlain Basin Program, and at other locations in the Hudson River watershed, DEC continues to work with the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to undertake an aggressive sampling effort using Environmental DNA (eDNA) and electrofishing. This effort occurred Between April and December 2022 and found the round goby remained south of Champlain Canal Lock C-1 in Waterford. Sampling efforts will continue this year to help determine the extent of round goby spread in the Canal system and provide the data necessary to strategically guide response efforts.
• Continue implementation of immediate risk reduction strategies in select locks on the Champlain Canal this season: Immediate measures include the piloting of "double draining" at Champlain Canal Locks C-1 (Waterford) and C-2 (Halfmoon) and scheduling locking operations to set times to accommodate recreational and commercial vessels for a second season. The intent of "double draining" is to move goby out of the lock and lock approach to prevent upstream migration. Additional efforts have been taken to understand the efficacy of double draining and studies will continue this season.
• DEC and Canals will develop additional potential AIS mitigation measures that allow boat passage and have the potential to be implemented in the next year, such as electric field barriers and air bubblers, and evaluate the effectiveness of these measures.
• Continue a coordinated public education campaign: Working with partners in Vermont and Canada, state agencies and the New York Invasive Species Council are engaged in an education and outreach effort that teaches boaters, anglers and others what steps can be taken to prevent the spread of goby and other AIS. This effort includes angler education on bait buckets, the importance of awareness and use of boat washing stations, and other stewardship actions as well as outreach visits that target different user groups. Educational materials developed by DEC will be distributed to boaters by lock staff.
• Implement rapid response plans: DEC and Canal Corporation will continue to implement and adjust the rapid response plan as new data become available. The rapid response plan defines operational changes of the Canal system in the event that research shows upstream movement of the goby that may justify the need for other measures, or if a new AIS is identified within proximity to entering the Champlain Canal. The plan contains objective criteria based on data for implementation of further canal operation modifications or implementation of technology-based interventions, such as an electric field barrier.
• Evaluate economic and ecological impacts of round goby: State agencies and partners will gather data and provide a comprehensive evaluation of potential economic and ecological impacts as a result of round goby and AIS spread. Assessment will include impacts to canal users, residents, municipalities, anglers, other recreational user groups, and NYS to further inform mitigation efforts.

New York State's efforts to combat the invasive round goby are supported by additional work led by the Lake Champlain Basin Program and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, including a feasibility study already underway to assess options for permanent barriers to prevent the spread of these invasive pests.

Recreational boats remain the single biggest way invasive species spread in New York waterways , but there are simple steps boaters can take to keep this from happening. Visit DEC's website for more information on aquatic invasive species and a step-by-step guide for ridding boats and equipment of AIS. A video can also be found on the DEC's YouTube channel.

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