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COVID-19 Updates: Taking steps to return to normal.
Anglers, aquarium and pond owners must follow rules to avoid introducing invasive fish species into Alberta’s water bodies.
Releasing live fish into Alberta waterbodies is illegal.
Invasive species of fish are being found across the province due to intentional or accidental introductions into Alberta waters. Aquarium owners and anglers can help prevent the introduction and spread of invasive fish.
Maps of aquatic invasive species that have been reported across Alberta are now available. Reporting is required under the Fisheries (Ministerial) Regulation, and knowing about an occurrence within 14 days offers the best opportunity for a successful response to minimize further spread and impacts. Report additional locations to the Aquatic Invasive Species hotline at 1-855-336-2628.
View the maps at: aquatic invasive species maps.
Water gardeners, pond and aquarium owners have a number of responsibilities, including:
Don’t let it loose! Never dispose of plants and fish from aquariums and ponds into an Alberta stream, lake or river system. Releasing them disrupts the natural balance of Alberta's ecosystems, and ultimately results in biodiversity loss.
It is illegal to release live fish into Alberta's lakes or rivers. Fines can be up to $100,000.
Do not transfer live fish from one water body to another.
As invasive fish species become established across the province, it is important for organizations to work together to prevent the spread, minimize impacts and use control methods to eradicate them where possible. Rotenone treatments are used by the Alberta Government and partners due to the high likelihood of success in eliminating undesirable fish species from compromised waterbodies. Organizations, such as municipalities, can also perform select treatments to eradicate invasive fish species. Here is what you need to know to prepare for doing a treatment:
As of July 2015, there are 25 prohibited fish species under the Fisheries (Alberta) Act. It is mandatory to report any of the 52 prohibited species listed (PDF, 12.5 MB) in the Fisheries (Alberta) Act within 14 days of finding them to provide the best chance of response success. There are 3 ways to report invasive species:
Regardless of an unintentional or intentional release, if there is evidence that invasive fish have established, response needs to be considered.
Response for fish included on the list of 52 prohibited species under the Fisheries (Alberta) Act will be priority for Alberta Environment and Parks.
For fish species (such as goldfish, koi or Prussian carp) that are not listed in provincial regulations, Alberta Environment and Parks can help support response treatments by guiding the approval process and support the development of response plans in conjunction with the organization or municipality. Legislation supporting treatments for species that are not included in the prohibited species list include the Fisheries (Alberta) Act, Section 11.01 (1) and the Federal AIS Regulations, Section 10. Both state that any organism that is not indigenous is prohibited to enter water of any kind, unless authorized by provincial or federal law.
Control of invasive fish is most feasible in isolated ponds, however, once released into flowing connected bodies of water, control efforts are exponentially more complex. Rotenone has been effective in the removal of invasive fish when used on its own, or in conjunction with other methods as compared to only using non-chemical methods (netting, water table fluctuations, electrofishing, etc.).
To learn more about rotenone, check out the factsheet below:
Requirements for fish removal using rotenone requires four main steps prior to treatment. The following are outlined below:
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