USGS led partners on a bio-blitz-like event in east Florida in mid May 2026 to track new introductions and possible spread of non-native freshwater fishes in northern Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, and Brevard counties.
Thirty-nine fish biologists from seven organizations participated in a two-day Fish Slam event in central Florida on May 20–21, 2026. The two-day Fish Slam event took place in northern Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, and Brevard counties where 26 freshwater sites were sampled for non-native fishes. Sampling gear included electrofishing boats, cast nets, seines, dipnets, and hook and line. Fifteen species of non-native fishes were collected or observed. This is the 18th Fish Slam event since the program began in 2013.
Notable collections include Clown Knifefish, Chitala ornata, collected in the C-44 intake canal that links the C-44 reservoir to the St. Lucie Canal. Clown Knifefish are documented in Lake Okeechobee and could be spreading east via the St. Lucie Canal. Specimens of Yellowbelly Cichlid, Trichromis salivini, were vouchered from the South Relief Canal in Vero, approximately 120 miles north from known established populations. Rio Grande Cichlids, Herichtys cyanoguttatus, which recently have only been collected in one site in the Vero area were collected in a new location at the Fellsmere Stormwater Park.
Fish Slam events link research institutions such as museums and universities with federal, state, and local government agencies that possess expertise and field equipment to collect non-native fishes, providing unique access to specimens for these institutions. This slam included representatives from the Florida Museum and Augusta University. Non-native fishes were tissue-sampled for DNA collections and then preserved for future research. Data from these collections are available in publicly accessible databases, such as the Specify Portal of the Florida Museum Fish Collection.
Non-native fishes collected or observed during Fish Slam May 2026
| Scientific Name | Common Name |
| Dorosoma petenense | Threadfin Shad |
| Chitala ornata | Clown Knifefish |
| Hoplosternum littorale | Brown Hoplo |
| Pterygoplichthys spp. | sailfin catfish |
| Hypostomus plecostomus | Suckermouth Catfish |
| Clarias batrachus | Walking Catfish |
| Monopterus javanensis | swamp eel |
| Herichthys cyanoguttatus | Rio Grande Cichlid |
| Mayaheros urophthalmus | Mayan Cichlid |
| Oreochromis sp. | tilapia |
| Pelmatolapia mariae | Spotted Tilapia |
| Hemichromis letourneuxi | African Jewelfish |
| Sarotherodon melanotheron | Blackchin Tilapia |
| Trichromis salvini | Yellowbelly Cichlid |
| Vieja melanurus | Redhead Cichlid |
Native species were returned to the wild alive per the requirements of our scientific collectors’ permits. All field observations of non-native species were entered into the USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database.
Participants of the May 2026 Fish Slam
The participants of the May 2026 Fish Chat and Slam were: Emilie Barenghien (Augusta Univ), Joey Barnett (FWC), Austin Becker (FWC), Arthur Bernhardt (FWC), Chelsea Bohaty (USACE), Mary Brown (USGS), Jamie Casteel (FWC), Jordy Chen (FM), Wes Daniel (USGS), Andre Daniels (Miccosukee), Nathan DeGray (FWC), Brady Dickerson (FWC), Cedric Doolittle (USFWS), Jake Edwards (USACE), Peyton Etheridge (Augusta Univ), Skippy Fair (USACE), Andrew Furness, Kelly Gestring (FWC), Zachary Hancock (Augusta Univ), Howard Jelks (USGS volunteer), Adam Knutson (USFWS), Jon Lane (USACE), Autumn Larson (Augusta Univ), Ian Markovich (USACE), Sam McPherson (FWC), Matt Neilson (USGS), Jason O’Connor (FWC), Megan Parsons (USACE), Eddie Perri (USFWS), Noah Peterson (FWC), Rob Robins (FM), Regan Sims (Augusta Univ), Randy Singer (Augusta Univ), Dan Slone (USGS), Hannah Smith (Augusta Univ), Courtney Stachowiak (FWC), Cheree Steward (FWC), Jennessy Toribio (FWC), Nick Trippel (FWC), and Ryan Weeks (FWC)
Institutional acronyms: Augusta Univ – Augusta University; FM – Florida Museum; FWC – Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; Miccosukee - Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida; USACE – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; USFWS – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; USGS – U.S. Geological Survey
We are grateful to our professional colleagues who volunteered their time and efforts to make Fish Slam successful. Special thanks to Josh Wilsey and Scott Bisping (FWC) for assistance with permits (S-12-26 and FFMSC-2026-17NE) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and TM Goodwin Waterfowl Management Area for hosting check-in locations.
Fish Slam - Spring 2016
Fish Slam 2015
Fish Slam 2014
USGS led partners on a bio-blitz-like event in east Florida in mid May 2026 to track new introductions and possible spread of non-native freshwater fishes in northern Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, and Brevard counties.
Thirty-nine fish biologists from seven organizations participated in a two-day Fish Slam event in central Florida on May 20–21, 2026. The two-day Fish Slam event took place in northern Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, and Brevard counties where 26 freshwater sites were sampled for non-native fishes. Sampling gear included electrofishing boats, cast nets, seines, dipnets, and hook and line. Fifteen species of non-native fishes were collected or observed. This is the 18th Fish Slam event since the program began in 2013.
Notable collections include Clown Knifefish, Chitala ornata, collected in the C-44 intake canal that links the C-44 reservoir to the St. Lucie Canal. Clown Knifefish are documented in Lake Okeechobee and could be spreading east via the St. Lucie Canal. Specimens of Yellowbelly Cichlid, Trichromis salivini, were vouchered from the South Relief Canal in Vero, approximately 120 miles north from known established populations. Rio Grande Cichlids, Herichtys cyanoguttatus, which recently have only been collected in one site in the Vero area were collected in a new location at the Fellsmere Stormwater Park.
Fish Slam events link research institutions such as museums and universities with federal, state, and local government agencies that possess expertise and field equipment to collect non-native fishes, providing unique access to specimens for these institutions. This slam included representatives from the Florida Museum and Augusta University. Non-native fishes were tissue-sampled for DNA collections and then preserved for future research. Data from these collections are available in publicly accessible databases, such as the Specify Portal of the Florida Museum Fish Collection.
Non-native fishes collected or observed during Fish Slam May 2026
| Scientific Name | Common Name |
| Dorosoma petenense | Threadfin Shad |
| Chitala ornata | Clown Knifefish |
| Hoplosternum littorale | Brown Hoplo |
| Pterygoplichthys spp. | sailfin catfish |
| Hypostomus plecostomus | Suckermouth Catfish |
| Clarias batrachus | Walking Catfish |
| Monopterus javanensis | swamp eel |
| Herichthys cyanoguttatus | Rio Grande Cichlid |
| Mayaheros urophthalmus | Mayan Cichlid |
| Oreochromis sp. | tilapia |
| Pelmatolapia mariae | Spotted Tilapia |
| Hemichromis letourneuxi | African Jewelfish |
| Sarotherodon melanotheron | Blackchin Tilapia |
| Trichromis salvini | Yellowbelly Cichlid |
| Vieja melanurus | Redhead Cichlid |
Native species were returned to the wild alive per the requirements of our scientific collectors’ permits. All field observations of non-native species were entered into the USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database.
Participants of the May 2026 Fish Slam
The participants of the May 2026 Fish Chat and Slam were: Emilie Barenghien (Augusta Univ), Joey Barnett (FWC), Austin Becker (FWC), Arthur Bernhardt (FWC), Chelsea Bohaty (USACE), Mary Brown (USGS), Jamie Casteel (FWC), Jordy Chen (FM), Wes Daniel (USGS), Andre Daniels (Miccosukee), Nathan DeGray (FWC), Brady Dickerson (FWC), Cedric Doolittle (USFWS), Jake Edwards (USACE), Peyton Etheridge (Augusta Univ), Skippy Fair (USACE), Andrew Furness, Kelly Gestring (FWC), Zachary Hancock (Augusta Univ), Howard Jelks (USGS volunteer), Adam Knutson (USFWS), Jon Lane (USACE), Autumn Larson (Augusta Univ), Ian Markovich (USACE), Sam McPherson (FWC), Matt Neilson (USGS), Jason O’Connor (FWC), Megan Parsons (USACE), Eddie Perri (USFWS), Noah Peterson (FWC), Rob Robins (FM), Regan Sims (Augusta Univ), Randy Singer (Augusta Univ), Dan Slone (USGS), Hannah Smith (Augusta Univ), Courtney Stachowiak (FWC), Cheree Steward (FWC), Jennessy Toribio (FWC), Nick Trippel (FWC), and Ryan Weeks (FWC)
Institutional acronyms: Augusta Univ – Augusta University; FM – Florida Museum; FWC – Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; Miccosukee - Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida; USACE – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; USFWS – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; USGS – U.S. Geological Survey
We are grateful to our professional colleagues who volunteered their time and efforts to make Fish Slam successful. Special thanks to Josh Wilsey and Scott Bisping (FWC) for assistance with permits (S-12-26 and FFMSC-2026-17NE) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and TM Goodwin Waterfowl Management Area for hosting check-in locations.
Fish Slam - Spring 2016
Fish Slam 2015