A large harvest of live Asian swamp eels (Monopterus albus), also known as Vietnamese rice eels, gathered in a container for a local food market. — Asian Swamp Eels Credit: Lam Van Linh/Shutterstock

University of Florida researchers are asking South Florida residents for help against the spread of Asian swamp eels.

“These fish are difficult to find, and that’s exactly why we need the public’s help,” Frank Mazzotti, a professor of wildlife ecology with the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences in Fort Lauderdale, said in a release.

The eels, native to East and Southeast Asia, were first observed in the Florida Everglades in 2007, where scientists have raised concerns about their affect on native wildlife. Mazzotti noted evidence suggests the eels are responsible for some declines in crayfish and amphibians.

The institute states the eels adapt well to South Florida’s environment: they can breathe air, survive in low-oxygen conditions, and persist through wet and dry seasons by burrowing into mud.

People who spot an “eel-like fish” in canals, wetlands or marshy areas are encouraged to snap a photo and report the sighting to 1-888-IVEGOT1 (483-4681), visit www.IVEGOT1.org, or use the IVEGOT1 mobile app.

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