DIRTY DOZEN2: Need to identify one of the Dirty Dozen? 
 ... we'll tell you how on Passport to Texas ... 
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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Would you recognize a snakehead fish if you saw one? 
What about a Chinese mitten crab, an apple snail or blue 
eel? 

"They're edible species and in some cases, some of the 
species are listed as prohibited on our list."

Lance Robinson is the regional director for coastal 
fisheries at Texas Parks and Wildlife. The prohibited 
species are on the Dirty Dozen list, and includes twelve 
non-native aquatic species sometimes found in tanks at 
markets and restaurants.

"You pick out the fish that you want to eat, and they 
harvest it right out of the tank and prepare it there 
on site."

Exotics inadvertently released into Texas waters can 
establish and compete with native species for food and 
habitat, or spread disease. To help citizens identify them, 
the agency created a colorful, informative brochure and 
poster.
 
"The brochure lists the common name of the animal, and we 
also include information about why the particular species 
is prohibited. The goal is, in addition to providing 
information to the seafood markets, is also to hopefully 
educate the consumers who are actually buying these products. 
So we have posters that we'll will be distributing to some of 
these markets, and ask them if they would help post them and 
educate their consumers."

And what if you spot one of the Dirty Dozen? 

"They can contact Parks and Wildlife or a local law 
enforcement number, or they can contact any of our coastal 
fisheries or inland fisheries offices, and that information
will be collected and forwarded on to the appropriate 
facilities."

That's our show ... made possible by the Sport Fish and 
Wildlife Restoration Program ... For Texas Parks and 
Wildlife ... I'm Cecilia Nasti.