Toirtis
God of primitive fishes
When will people learn? Ir is nice to see that someone is working on a fish-rescue:
Amazon catfish found in Caribou Lake
NEWS TRIBUNE
A Minnesota Department of Natural Resources fish survey team recently
pulled up their net in Caribou Lake and found a shovelnose catfish native
to the Amazon River.
The fish, the only one of its kind found, survived for a few days but
eventually died. Officials say it's unlikely it reproduced in Caribou,
which is adjacent to Pike Lake.
Doug Jensen, Minnesota Sea Grant invasive species expert, said the fish
probably was released out of a local resident's aquarium, an increasingly
common problem.
While seemingly a harmless prank or thoughtless disposal, the influx of
foreign fish into local waters can be serious. Although many exotic fish
can't survive here, others can, and they could threaten local fish
populations. Non-native animals and plants can impair water quality,
compete with native species and carry diseases that may be transmitted to
native fish, Jensen said.
Last year, crews drained Rock Pond at the University of Minnesota Duluth
to get rid of goldfish and other exotic species that were reproducing,
surviving through Duluth winters and that could have moved into a
connected trout stream and Lake Superior.
Instead of dumping fish in local waters, people are asked to return them
to the pet or aquarium store where they were purchased, give them to
another aquarium owner or donate them to a school or business that has an
aquarium.
Brian Mattson, owner of Superior Aquarium in Superior, is part of a
national effort by the aquarium industry to offer proper disposal or
trading of unwanted fish. Mattson said people are welcome to call him for
tips on turning back fish.
Amazon catfish found in Caribou Lake
NEWS TRIBUNE
A Minnesota Department of Natural Resources fish survey team recently
pulled up their net in Caribou Lake and found a shovelnose catfish native
to the Amazon River.
The fish, the only one of its kind found, survived for a few days but
eventually died. Officials say it's unlikely it reproduced in Caribou,
which is adjacent to Pike Lake.
Doug Jensen, Minnesota Sea Grant invasive species expert, said the fish
probably was released out of a local resident's aquarium, an increasingly
common problem.
While seemingly a harmless prank or thoughtless disposal, the influx of
foreign fish into local waters can be serious. Although many exotic fish
can't survive here, others can, and they could threaten local fish
populations. Non-native animals and plants can impair water quality,
compete with native species and carry diseases that may be transmitted to
native fish, Jensen said.
Last year, crews drained Rock Pond at the University of Minnesota Duluth
to get rid of goldfish and other exotic species that were reproducing,
surviving through Duluth winters and that could have moved into a
connected trout stream and Lake Superior.
Instead of dumping fish in local waters, people are asked to return them
to the pet or aquarium store where they were purchased, give them to
another aquarium owner or donate them to a school or business that has an
aquarium.
Brian Mattson, owner of Superior Aquarium in Superior, is part of a
national effort by the aquarium industry to offer proper disposal or
trading of unwanted fish. Mattson said people are welcome to call him for
tips on turning back fish.
joke
