They are good to watch in aquariums, but undesirable in lakes. Goldfish, when released into waterways, can quickly become invasive species. In Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, six lakes are infected.
Most of these are in Shipshaw. The Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks (MELCCFP) has been monitoring Lake Fillion since 2015. At times, hundreds of fish are swimming around the small water lake.
Goldfish in water photo montage.
Photo: Radio-Canada
Within 10 years, goldfish were observed in several other surrounding lakes. They are not in the same watersheds. There is no hydrological connection that explains the natural spread from one lake to another
A biologist observes MELCCFP Anne-Marie Bouchard.
Anne-Marie Bouchard is a biologist at the Ministry of Environment, Combating Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Rosalie Dumais-Beaulieu
It is unclear who is responsible for this contact, but it is certainly human nature.
Goldfish in Lake Fillion (Archives 2015).
Photo: Radio-Canada
Goldfish is an exotic species native to Asia. Its feeding habits contrast with native species found in Quebec lakes.
For food, it moves the bottom of the water, which reduces the amount of light available to the plants, causing them to grow more slowly. It also feeds on fish eggs, larvae and disrupts growing areas for young fish.
It's hard to go back
Found in waterways with plenty of food, goldfish can grow up to 50 centimeters in length. Their color varies from orange-red to olive green or grey.
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