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New fears held for river health

07/Feb/2012

By Anne Gartner, Canning Times

Comments:

Russell Gorton. Russell Gorton.

A GLINT of gold shining up from the waters of the Canning River has Wilson Wetlands Action Group chairman Russell Gorton concerned.

Mr Gorton said the sight of the two goldfish foraging along the riverbed indicated a wider problem with introduced species flourishing in the area this summer.

“There are two distinct goldfish swimming through the river this summer, which has sparked my interest because there is a possibility there are more around,” he said.

Murdoch University Freshwater Fish Group researcher Stephen Beatty said introduced species caused problems in the river as the aquarium fish flourished in the nutrient-rich environment.

He said the fish exacerbated algae blooms, spreading nutrients and disturbing native fish eggs.

“Koi carp and goldfish can be very damaging because they stir up nutrients as they feed on the bottom of the river bed,” he said.

“This feeding process doesn’t help rehabilitation efforts in the area as they often exacerbate algae blooms.”

Dr Beatty said foreign fish entered the Canning River system through people dumping aquarium fish into waterways.

“People really need to consider how they dispose of unwanted fish – they should be taken back to an aquarium rather than released into the river,” he said.

Mr Gorton said volunteers had been involved in efforts to remove introduced fish over many years; however, Dr Beatty said more education was needed to stop people introducing foreign fish into the river.


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