Shuswap backcountry lake infested with goldfish, part of a concerning problem

A small lake tucked into the hills behind Scotch Creek in the Shuswap is infested with invasive goldfish, and it’s a tiny example of a much bigger, human-caused problem.

An active backcountry explorer from Sorrento, Jason Lutterman hiked to the Scotch Creek Lookout in late August, stopping at nearby Lost Lake where he snapped a photo of the fish.

“It’s for sure very odd,” he told iNFOnews.ca. “But so are people.”

Invasive goldfish enter waterways when people release pet fish into them, which is illegal. The fish quickly grow into much bigger fish that multiply and eat food sources for native species, among other environmentally damaging behaviours, and they’re hard to get rid of.

Executive director of the Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society Robyn Hooper is aware of the infestation at Lost Lake.

“The society has received reports of the goldfish infestation and passed them along to provincial fisheries biologist,” she said in an email. “Goldfish are found in several waterbodies in the Shuswap, including Shuswap Lake.”

Executive director of the Invasive Species Council of BC, Gail Wallin said it’s part of an ongoing issue in lakes and ponds province wide.

“People do silly things and dump their pet fish in the ponds,” she said in a previous interview with iNFOnews.ca. “We’re very strong with our message to the public, don’t let it loose.”

Goldfish are categorized under Regional Containment/Control in BC, meaning they are either high risk and well established, or medium risk with a high potential for spread, but there aren’t many ways to get rid of the them once they are introduced that is safe for the rest of the ecosystem.

“The fish can be removed through netting and electrofishing but it’s hard to target them all, and if some are missed the problem continues,” Wallin said. “There is a chemical that will kill the fish, but it’ll kill all the other fish in the lake, it’s really tough.”

Goldfish are highly adaptable to different habitats as they can survive low oxygen levels, and withstand extreme high and low temperatures, even overwintering under the ice, according to a report by the Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Council.

They can spread parasites and diseases to native species and limit the growth of aquatic plants by clouding up the water with their foraging behaviours.

They’re also prolific spawners and can live for roughly 15 years, laying up to 50,000 eggs per year. Females can reproduce asexually, so the release of just one fish can lead to an infestation.

“All water bodies are habitat for aquatic species, and they’re rearing ponds for insects, a food supply for other animals,” Wallin said. “Ecosystems are intricate and balanced, and as soon as you have an invasive, they’re competing with the natural life.”

The messaging from local and provincial invasive species organizations is clear: Don’t Let it Loose.

Lost Lake is located near Scotch Creek Lookout along the currently closed South Scotch Creek Loop.

To report sightings of goldfish in BC waters, email the Invasive Species Council of BC at info@bcinvasives.ca or phone them at 1-888-933-3722.