Angling to be closed on two Central Okanagan lakes to stop spread of invasive perch

KELOWNA – Fishing will no longer be allowed on two lakes in the Kelowna area in an effort to control the spread of an invasive species of fish.

The province will halt angling on Windy Lake and Little Windy Lake on the Nicola River system starting Saturday, July 9, according to a B.C. Government media release. The closure will be in effect until further notice. The closure is part of a plan to stop the spread of the invasive yellow perch into the river system.

The yellow perch are not native to the lake and biologists believe they were released by an individual attempting to create a local perch fishery.

Yellow perch have few native predators, are adaptive and reproduce quickly. They have the ability to overpower native species for habitat and food, the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations says in the release.

The province is serious about stopping the spread of invasive species. Between 2006 and 2012, 11 lakes in the Thompson region were closed due to invasive fish species.

To report an invasive animal species use this online form. 

For more information on invasive fish species in B.C., visit the B.C. Invasive website by clicking here. 

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