Giant goldfish multiplying in Alberta ponds

The province is launching a campaign this summer to stop people from releasing their pet fishinto the wild.

Goldfish, somethe size of dinner plates, are being found from Lethbridge to Fort McMurray, the province says.

"It's quite a surprise how large we're finding them and the sheer number,"said Kate Wilson, aquatic invasive species co-ordinator at Alberta Environment and Parks.

In one case, the municipality of Wood Buffalo pulled 40 of the domestic fish species from a storm water pond.

"That's really scary because it means they're reproducing in the wild, they are getting quite large and they are surviving the winters that far north," said Wilson.

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Wilson says the government's Don't Let It Loose campaign will focus on educating Albertans about the dangers of releasing domestic fish intonature.

"Approximately a third of invasive species out there that threaten native aquatic environments are from aquariums and theornamental trade," she said.

Wilson says the campaign will targetpet stores,businesses thatsupply ponds andaquariums, Asianmarketsthat sell livefish andspiritual groups that release captured animals as an act of good karma.

Prussian carp also threat

Anotherinvasive speciesspotted in the Bow, Rosebud,Red Deer and SouthSaskatchewan rivers is the Prussian carp.

According to Wilson, Alberta is the onlyjurisdiction that's reported the foreign fishin its waterways.

"Something weird is happening," she said.

"It could be a group of people from somewhere else who are used to fishing for these kind of species which intentionally introducedthem, which is highly illegal."