This piranha was caught in a Vancouver Island lake

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.

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