Dumping
of Aquarium Fish Causing Trouble in Duluth or Something's
Fishy in Rock Pond
MN SEA GRANT News Release
Marie Zhuikov
Published May 11, 2004
Rock Pond on the campus of the University of Minnesota Duluth
(UMD) is filled with hundreds of goldfish. While not as
nasty as the snakehead
fish found in some Maryland ponds, goldfish are just as
illegal to
release into local waterways. The problem is that the two-acre
pond
drains into Tischer Creek, a designated trout stream, which
flows into
Lake Superior.
"Unfortunately, Rock Pond appears to be the local dump
for unwanted
fish by aquarium or water garden owners," said Doug
Jensen, Aquatic
Invasive Species Information Center coordinator for the
University of
Minnesota Sea Grant Program. "The goldfish indicate
that aquarium
releases are going on, and more dangerous species could
get into local waters unless we make people aware of the
issue," said Jensen.
"Fortunately, there's a remedy for the Rock Pond situation
because
it's a constructed pond with an outflow that needs rebuilding.
If
similar releases occurred in other area lakes or rivers,
attempts to
eradicate or control the spread would be extremely costly."
To eradicate the goldfish, koi, and rusty crayfish, Rock
Pond is being
pumped dry this week. Fish remaining after the drawdown
will be
collected for composting. A group worked for a year considering
alternatives to this method and how to address possible
downstream
effects of the pond draining. They investigated giving the
fish away
or having a local pet store sell them, but ran up against
prohibitive
regulations.
The effort is costing UMD $50,000 not including the staff
time from
eight departments and cooperating agencies. The pond should
refill
naturally from runoff and rain later in the season. Public
awareness
of this issue is being communicated to student residents
by e-mail,
fliers posted in the resident halls, and signs near the
pond before
the students leave the dorms for the summer.
"Instead of releasing your plants, fish, and other
animals, you can
give them to another aquarium owner, advertise to give them
away, or
donate them to a public facility, nursing home, or business
that has
an aquarium or water garden," said Jensen.
Rock Pond is serving as the testing ground for a national
campaign led
by Sea Grant, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the
Pet Industry
Joint Advisory Council. The project seeks to prevent the
release of
aquarium and water garden fish and plants through an educational
campaign that involves large aquarium fish retailers such
as PetCo,
Wal-Mart, and many private outlets.
The group is finalizing a logo and slogan that will be seen
on the
bags in which hobbyists carry their fish home, static stickers
on new
fish tanks, brochures, a Web site, and hobby magazine ads.
The
informational signs used in the Rock Pond project will serve
as templates for similar situations across the county.
From snakeheads to giant salvinia, over 38 species of unwanted
fish
and dozens of plants, crayfish, and snails have been accidentally
released into fresh and marine waters of the U.S. by aquarium
and water garden owners. Releases of potentially invasive
species can impact the
economy, recreation, and the environment. They can cause
impaired
water quality, clogged waterways, competition and hybridization
with
native species, and diseases. While environmental and economic
consequences for most species are unknown, impacts of some
infestations have cost millions of dollars for control and
management.
New sightings of exotic species should be reported to Minnesota
Sea Grant at (218) 726-8712, the Minnesota Department of
Natural Resources (DNR) at 1-888-MINNDNR or (651) 296-2835,
or a local DNR fishery
office.
This information is posted
for nonprofit educational purposes, in accordance with U.S.
Code Title 17, Chapter 1,Sec. 107 copyright laws.
For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml.
If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for
purposes of your own that go beyond "fair use," you
must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
