A fisherman from Nanaimo reeled in a red-bellied piranha this week at Westwood Lake.
Image Credit: FACEBOOK/ Conservation Officer Service of B.C.
September 27, 2019 - 4:15 PM
NANAIMO - A fisherman from Nanaimo reeled in a red-bellied piranha this week at Westwood Lake.
The tropical fish, which cannot survive Canadian winters, was likely released as an unwanted pet, according to the B.C. Conservation Officer Service.
“It is a common aquarium fish,” reads a post to the conservation officer service Facebook page.
This isn’t the first time a piranha was found in Westwood Lake. Another one was caught at the same spot earlier this summer.
The conservation officer service is reminding the public about the potential harm of introducing aquatic invasive species into B.C. lakes. They pose a risk to native fish, ecosystems and other species and it’s illegal.
A conviction on a first offence of the illegal movement of aquatic invasive species is a fine of up to $100,000 and or a prison term of up to 12 months.
Anyone who suspects their catch is a new introduction or with information on an incident should call the Report All Poachers and Polluters hotline at 1-877-952-7277.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Karen Edwards or call (250) 819-3723 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.
News from © iNFOnews, 2019