http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/giant-goldfish-multiplying-in-alberta-ponds-1.3125163
Giant goldfish multiplying in Alberta ponds
Province launches campaign to curb invasive pet species
By Alberta@Noon, CBC News Posted: Jun 23, 2015 5:42 PM MT| Last Updated: Jun 23, 2015 5:42 PM MT
Just a handful of the 40 goldfish removed from a Fort McMurray stormpond in 2015. According to the province, some were as large as dinner plates. (Rebecca Baldwin / Alberta Environment and Parks)
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The Alberta government is launching a campaign this summer to stop people from flushing their aquariums down their toilets.
Goldfish the size of dinner plates are multiplying like bunnies from Lethbridge to Fort McMurray, the province says.
"It's quite surprise how large we're finding them and the sheer number," said Kate Wilson, aquatic invasive species coordinator at Alberta Environment and Parks.
In one case, the municipality of Wood Buffalo pulled 40 of the domestic fish species from a stormwater pond.
"That's really scary because it means they're reproducing in the wild, they are getting quite large and they are surviving the winters that far north," said Wilson.
Wilson says the government's Don't Let It Loose campaign will focus on educating Albertans about the dangers of releasing domestic fish into nature.
Prussian carp
A pile of prussian carp removed from the Western Irrigation District canal in 2014. (Aquality Environmental Consulting)
"Approximately a third of invasive species out there that threaten native aquatic environments are from aquariums and the ornamental trade," she said.
Wilson says the campaign will target pet stores, businesses that supply ponds and aquariums, Asian markets that sell live fish and spiritual groups that release captured animals as an act of good karma.
Prussian carp also threat
Another invasive species spotted in the Bow, Rosebud, Red Deer and South Saskatchewan rivers is the Prussian carp.
According to Wilson, Alberta is the only jurisdiction that's reported the foreign fish in its waterways.
"Something weird is happening," she said.
"It could be a group of people from somewhere else who are used to fishing for these kind of species which intentionally introduced them, which is highly illegal."
Giant goldfish multiplying in Alberta ponds
Province launches campaign to curb invasive pet species
By Alberta@Noon, CBC News Posted: Jun 23, 2015 5:42 PM MT| Last Updated: Jun 23, 2015 5:42 PM MT
Just a handful of the 40 goldfish removed from a Fort McMurray stormpond in 2015. According to the province, some were as large as dinner plates. (Rebecca Baldwin / Alberta Environment and Parks)
Related Stories
■Invasive mussels found on boat during mandatory inspection near Sylvan Lake http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmon...ndatory-inspection-near-sylvan-lake-1.3080924
■Sniffer dogs to detect invasive zebra mussels in Manitoba http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manit...-invasive-zebra-mussels-in-manitoba-1.3091202
■Zebra mussels found on boat from U.S. at Alberta border http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calga...-on-boat-from-u-s-at-alberta-border-1.2874117
The Alberta government is launching a campaign this summer to stop people from flushing their aquariums down their toilets.
Goldfish the size of dinner plates are multiplying like bunnies from Lethbridge to Fort McMurray, the province says.
"It's quite surprise how large we're finding them and the sheer number," said Kate Wilson, aquatic invasive species coordinator at Alberta Environment and Parks.
In one case, the municipality of Wood Buffalo pulled 40 of the domestic fish species from a stormwater pond.
"That's really scary because it means they're reproducing in the wild, they are getting quite large and they are surviving the winters that far north," said Wilson.
Wilson says the government's Don't Let It Loose campaign will focus on educating Albertans about the dangers of releasing domestic fish into nature.
Prussian carp
A pile of prussian carp removed from the Western Irrigation District canal in 2014. (Aquality Environmental Consulting)
"Approximately a third of invasive species out there that threaten native aquatic environments are from aquariums and the ornamental trade," she said.
Wilson says the campaign will target pet stores, businesses that supply ponds and aquariums, Asian markets that sell live fish and spiritual groups that release captured animals as an act of good karma.
Prussian carp also threat
Another invasive species spotted in the Bow, Rosebud, Red Deer and South Saskatchewan rivers is the Prussian carp.
According to Wilson, Alberta is the only jurisdiction that's reported the foreign fish in its waterways.
"Something weird is happening," she said.
"It could be a group of people from somewhere else who are used to fishing for these kind of species which intentionally introduced them, which is highly illegal."
