By Brent Bosker

Government warns about hazardous pet fish

Mar 29, 2011 | 5:19 PM

There's a big worry in Saskatchewan about a fish being sold on the Internet classifieds site Kijiji and at a Prince Albert pet store.

The Northern Snakehead, a fish native to China and Siberia, has been known to decimate all fish populations wherever it lives, can survive in the harshest conditions and even survive for a time on dry land.

The U.S. State of Maryland endured such a scare when a Snakehead was released into a pond and did just that. The story attracted worldwide attention.

The Ministry of Environment is concerned the same thing could happen here after learning the local pet store Petland was selling a species of the invasive creature.

“We asked them to voluntarily stop and they complied,” said Tanya Johnston, an aquatic ecologist with the ministry.

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The government is warning pet stores and the public about the consequences of releasing the fish into local lakes or rivers.

“Most of our concern (is) that it can survive in Saskatchewan waters, unlike most of the tropical fish they sell,” she said.

Les Ervick, owner of Bray's Pet and Garden Supplies in Prince Albert is aware of what the fish is capable of doing.
“I've never carried them. I had an idea that they were a pretty invasive species.”

Johnston said if a fish was to be introduced into a lake or river, poisoning the water would be the only one way to kill it.

“(However) if we put poison in the lake all the fish species would die. And because it can walk on land, poisoning is not 100 per cent foolproof,” she said.

The Northern Snakehead is currently legal to own and sell in Saskatchewan, however Johnson said the government is looking at banning the species.

“It's a longer term solution,” said Johnston. “We would have to change our regulations because right now the aquarium trade is not part of the fisheries regulations.

“It's a lengthy process so right now we are taking the education route,” she said.

Anyone who owns this type of fish and wants to dispose of it can call their nearest Ministry of Environment branch.

bbosker@panow.com