Invasive goldfish in a Campbell River stormwater-collection pond are being removed in a two-week effort beginning Monday.
Removing the fish is a delicate task that requires water to be pumped out of the pond while any amphibians are saved, to be returned when the work is complete, the city said. Trails around the pond will be closed while the work is underway.
The Erickson Stormwater Pond, which collects rainwater that is screened before being released, is in a residential area off Erickson Road and is connected to the Willow Creek watershed.
The city began receiving reports about goldfish in the pond in 2023, which raised concerns because goldfish have a high reproductive rate.
Female goldfish can release 50,000 eggs at a time up to three times a summer. The species competes for food and space with native species, and can carry parasites and diseases that affect other fish, including salmon.
“Goldfish are — simply put — not for the wild,” said Steve Roehr, the city’s operations manager for utilities. “This species causes harm to the natural environment here in Campbell River and it’s necessary to remove them.”
Roehr has said the goldfish can grow as big as footballs.
Goldfish are sometimes dumped in bodies of water by people who want to get rid of them and don’t want to flush them down the toilet. Owners who don’t want the fish are advised instead to compost them or put them in the garbage.
The city hopes education is the key to prevent the problem from happening again — its Not for the Wild campaign explains the risks of releasing invasive species into the environment.
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