Goldfish invasion closes popular lake to fishing in northwestern B.C.

You may think of them as low maintenancepets that require nothing morethan a daily sprinkle of food flakes.

But the type of goldfish that have been discovered in popular Lost Lake near Terrace, B.C., demand attention, which is why the province has taken the unprecedented step of closing the lake to fishing starting on Saturday.

The invasive goldfish also known asCarassius auratus have been detected in all sizes in the lakewhich suggests they are reproducing.

An alert posted bythe Ministry of Forests, Land and Natural Resources says biologists are assessing the extent of the invasion to come up with interventions and treatment options to prevent the goldfish from spreading into the Skeena watershed.

The species is native to Eastern Asia and isknown to compete with and prey upon native fish. They can range in colour from gold to olive green to white and grow to be 15 to20 centimetres long.

Although there have been sporadic reports of goldfish in theSkeena region's rivers and lakes,this is the first confirmed sighting.

The ministry said the closureis warranted because of the lake's close proximity to Terrace and significant native fish populations.

Lost Lake is a kilometre away from the Kitsumkalum River, which feeds directly into the Skeena River, 10 kilometres to the south at Terrace.

It's not known how the goldfish ended up in the lake. According to the ministry, goldfish have been intentionally released into B.C. watersby pet ownersand have been known toescapefrom outdoor ponds and aquariums.