Invasive Devil Fish Found in Bacalar’s Aguadas

Bacalar, Quintana Roo — Concern is growing among residents of the Altos de Sevilla community in Bacalar after the discovery of a specimen of the invasive “devil fish” in a seasonal water body located between the town and the neighboring settlement of Paraíso.

Unexpected Discovery Raises Alarm

The finding occurred unexpectedly when locals visited the aguada (shallow water body) to fish for food. To their surprise, they captured a fish identified as a pleco or “devil fish” (Hypostomus plecostomus), an invasive species native to South America that has caused severe ecological damage in other regions of Mexico.

The aguadas where the specimen was found are part of a seasonal water system activated by rising river levels, particularly from the Grijalva and Usumacinta rivers in Tabasco and Veracruz. Residents suspect the fish may have been carried into Quintana Roo by these waters, raising fears of further spread.

Ecological Threat and Local Concerns

The devil fish is known for its high adaptability, rapid reproduction, and destructive impact on aquatic ecosystems. It feeds on substrate, displaces native species, and erodes riverbanks due to its burrowing habits. Several southeastern Mexican states have already implemented control and eradication campaigns to combat its spread.

As of now, no official report has been issued by environmental or fisheries authorities regarding this discovery. However, residents are urging immediate vigilance and preventive measures. They fear that if the species establishes itself in the region, traditional fishing activities—a livelihood for many families—could be severely affected.

Calls for Government Action

Residents of Altos de Sevilla are calling on municipal and state authorities to address the situation urgently. They demand monitoring of regional aguadas and, if necessary, public awareness campaigns and containment efforts to prevent the invasive species from spreading into freshwater bodies in southern Quintana Roo.