[Worldwide Koi Club] DO NOT PUT KOI ETC. …
With respect to goldfish I think this is over reactive nonsense. Ecology gone awry. It is certainly true that some other species do cause big problems however.
Edgar
On Jun 5, 2008, at 12:41 PM, wyrdology wrote:
> > 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. …” > > >
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Category: Philippines Internet Koi Society
