DO NOT PUT KOI ETC. …
Well, I thought this was common knowledge, but there you go… I have heard and read of many tragedies involving people creating severe damage to their lakes and ecosystems by introducing foreign species to them, and I know in many places, this is highly illegal. A quick google on the subject brought up hundreds of hits, and here are only three of them, involving the US, the UK and Canada…
“…Maine’s wildlife biologists have periodically killed every fish in a pond, just to keep a population of goldfish from spreading to a nearby river.Such extreme action shows that the state is serious about protecting native freshwater fisheries from invasive species. Cuong Ly found out just how serious last week when game wardens seized 10 koi, goldfish-like ornamental carp, from a fish tank at his restaurant in Freeport. Maine Warden Service officials say they warned Ly that the fish are illegal in Maine, but he kept them, prompting the seizure. John Boland, director of fisheries for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, says it is difficult to craft a law that protects Maine rivers and ponds from invasive species but exempts responsible restaurateurs.”It’s on a long list of fish species we just don’t want showing up in our wild waters,” Boland said of the koi. “I don’t doubt he has no intention of releasing them but that doesn’t mean somebody else less scrupulous might not just get rid of theirs.”Fish like koi, carp or catfish are a threat to these natural resources in Maine because if they’re accidentally or intentionally released into the wild, they can establish populations and out-compete our native fish species.”Boland said invasive species have hurt Maine’s native species as far back as the 1800s when bass were introduced to improve fishing opportunities. Those fish, as well as black crappie and northern pike, continue to be problematic, hurting populations of brook trout and other native species by competing for food or eating them directly.The most serious threat is from those who intentionally introduce attractive sportfish like bass. But even nonsport fish like goldfish have been released and established populations, Boland said. Typically, the only way to dislodge a foreign fish species is to kill all the fish in the water body and then restock it with native species, he said. State laws against importation of non-native fish species have been on the books for decades, so Ly was prohibited from having the fish even 15 years ago when bought them, Boland said. Carp species have invaded rivers in the U.S. and other areas of the world. The fish stir up sediment so water is murky and undrinkable, can disrupt vegetation altering water chemistry and they can have parasites that spread to native species, according to the center…”
“…The Great Lakes are in the throes of an environmental meltdown, with more than 180 foreign species of animal and plant life in its waters, scientists say. The foreign species are gobbling up native fish, crowding out local fauna and wreaking havoc on the food chain. These ecological changes are being spearheaded by some of the most destructive species ever to invade. Adding to the ecological damage is the explosion of the voracious round goby, which eats the eggs of native fish and takes over their spawning grounds and habitat. “We are seeing changes in the Great Lakes that are more rapid and more destructive than any time in the history of the Great Lakes,” said Andy Buchsbaum, director of the Great Lakes Office of the National Wildlife Federation based in Ann Arbor. Non-native species can be in the water for a long time before they’re discovered, said Hugh MacIsaac, a Windsor University biology professor and leading expert on invasive species. “One reason is they are introduced in small numbers and it takes time for the population to get large enough before they can be detected,” he said. By that time, it’s often too late to deal with the intruder. Once an ecosystem has been significantly changed by invasive species, there’s no going back, said Barbara Warkentine, a marine biologist and director of the Marine Environmental Science Program at SUNY Maritime College. Tyler Baskfield with the Colorado Division of Wildlife says fish that don’t belong in our local waters typically come from people’s aquariums. “They [fish] grow out of the aquarium and they put them in our reservoirs,” he said. “I don’t think it’s a safety issue as far as people are concerned, but it’s a safety issue when it comes to the environment,” said Baskfield. The Division of Wildlife says if anyone catches a fish that doesn’t belong, don’t throw it back, get rid of it. It is illegal to introduce foreign species into the water….”
“…Reading magistrates have charged a man after he illegally released more than a dozen goldfish into the River Thames. Derek May of Reading in Berkshire was given a six-month conditional discharge and charged �60 costs after a member of the public spotted him dumping the fish and contacted the Environment Agency. May pleaded guilty and was charged under Section 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act and Section 30 of the Salmon and Freshwater Fishery Act, which make it illegal to introduce non-native fish into the wild, and to introduce fish without consent. May told magistrates at Reading Magistrates’ Court that he was left with 15 to 20 goldfish that remained brown, and rather than rehoming the fish responsibly, he dumped them into the River Thames at Scours Lane in Reading. Environment Agency crime officer Dennis Welling said: “Although some people may think this is a harmless act, introducing non-native fish into the wild can have serious implications for our native fish populations. “They carry disease, out-compete native species, and breed so prolifically that they change the natural balance of the ecosystem. “Although the humble goldfish has been part of our society for 400 years, it is still a non-native species that should be enjoyed in garden ponds and fish tanks, rather than damaging native fish stocks in our lakes, streams and rivers. “Where the evidence is available we will support our police colleagues in prosecuting those who fail to protect our environment for future generations.” If May commits a similar offence, May will be sentenced on both the original charge and the new charge. …”
Category: Worldwide Koi Club
