Alien fish problem
An angler with one of the alien fish that threaten local species
OWNERS who empty their aquariums in the local marine environment are causing severe environmental problems.
This emerged after Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife District Conservation Officer, Kevin Green reported an increase in the number of foreign fish being caught in local waters.
‘A case in point is a ‘crocodile fish’ caught recently in the Enseleni river by one of the locals.
‘I have seen more of them in previous years caught in nets in the Mzingazi Lake,’ said Green.
‘They originate in southern Brazil and are exported around the world for freshwater aquariums.
‘They are generally known as Pleco's (Plecostomus) or Suckermouth Catfish of the Hypostomus species.
‘They can grow up to 70cm in the wild and thus they become a problem after outgrowing the average size home aquarium.
‘People do not like to kill their ‘pets’ and think they are doing them a favour by releasing them into a ‘natural’ environment.
‘This practice is not good and I appeal to owners to rather destroy their unwanted fish than threaten the local ecology.’