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Feb 19

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A “ruffe” road ahead for the Great Lakes

via TiitHunt / Wikimedia

An aggressive little fish is threatening to disturb ecosystems throughout the Great Lakes.

The Eurasian Ruffe is recognizable by its long spiny dorsal fin and frowning mouth. It’s native to Northern Europe and Asia, and made its first appearance in Lake Superior in the 1980s, probably after catching a ride on a freighter from Europe.

The quickly-reproducing fish has become abundant in areas of Lake Superior, where it can out-compete native species for food and habitat. And now, it’s found in Lakes Huron and Michigan too.

Anglers can help prevent the spread by cleaning boats and fishing gear before entering new waters, and by never using the invasive fish as bait.

Get Schooled:

The fine print:

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Permanent link to this article: http://www.currentcast.org/creature-features/a-ruffe-road-ahead-for-the-great-lakes/