GLIN==> News Release - Aquarium Outcast!

["Marie E. Zhuikov" <mzhuikov@d.umn.edu>]

                            MN SEA GRANT
                            NEWS RELEASE
9/29/05
Contact: Marie Zhuikov, mzhuikov@umn.edu or (218) 726-7677

                 Aquarium Outcast Found in Minnesota

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) personnel netted a 
surprise during a routine fisheries census of Caribou Lake, near 
Duluth.

"We were completely startled," said John Meerbeek, one of two DNR 
employees who netted a Lima Shovelnose Catfish in July. "Even before we 
untangled it, we could tell it wasn't native. We figured it was an 
aquarium fish from the Ictaluridae (catfish) family."

The fish, dubbed "Snidely" (after Snidely Whiplash of Dudley Do-Right 
fame) by Doug Jensen, Minnesota Sea Grant's aquatic invasive species 
program coordinator, is an Amazon River native. After being held at the 
French River Hatchery, Snidely died a few days later. The fish now 
rests preserved in a jar on Jensen's desk, part of Jensen's educational 
arsenal of preserved invaders.

"Unfortunately, this release is a local example of aquarium releases 
occurring across the country," said Jensen. "Many fish, plants, snails, 
crayfish and other animals are being found in places where they don't 
belong.

"This discovery, plus the koi and goldfish found in Rock Pond on the 
University of Minnesota Duluth campus a couple of years ago show that 
people are releasing things in our backyard," Jensen said.

These releases can harm the outcast organisms and the environment, 
Jensen explained. Once released, non-native animals and plants can 
impair water quality, compete with native species, and carry diseases 
that may be transmitted to native fish. Jensen is optimistic that 
future releases can be avoided once people understand the consequences 
of their actions. Dumping aquarium contents is illegal in Minnesota.

To raise awareness about invasive species, Governor Tim Pawlenty is 
declaring October Invasive Species Month in Minnesota. Citizens can 
help by participating in the activities held during October by various 
organizations. A list of events can be found on the Minnesota Native 
Plant Society's Web site:
http://www.mnnps.org/invasive.

Another way citizens can help is by taking these actions when they have 
an unwanted aquarium animal or plant:

- Contact a retailer for proper handling advice or for possible returns
- Give/trade with another aquarist, pond owner, or water gardener
- Donate to a local aquarium society, school, or aquatic business
- Seal aquatic plants in plastic bags and dispose in the trash
- Contact a veterinarian or pet retailer for humane disposal guidance
- Know state regulations regarding these alternatives

"If the hobbyist who released Snidely would have known about these 
alternatives, the fish might still be alive for others to enjoy," said 
Jensen.

The actions were developed for HabitattitudeTM, a national public 
awareness campaign aimed at preventing the release of unwanted aquarium 
fish and plants into lakes and oceans by aquarists and water gardeners. 
Jensen has been co-leading the campaign with the Pet Industry Joint 
Advisory Council, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and NOAA's Great 
Lake Sea Grant Network.

Brian Mattson, owner of Superior Aquarium in Superior, Wis., is a 
HabitattitudeTM partner. He joined because, "It's something we do 
anyway. It seemed like a good idea to reiterate to people not to 
release fish into ponds and lakes," Mattson said.

He said that customer response has been positive. They often call his 
store before disposing of a fish or plant to be sure it's done 
properly. "We actually take a few fish back and try to find them other 
homes," Mattson said.

For more information about aquatic invasive species, how your 
organization can join HabitattitudeTM, or how you can get involved with 
Invasive Species Month events, contact Doug Jensen at (218) 726-8712 or 
djensen1@umn.edu.

                                     ###


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