Aquarium Fish Cause Trouble for Texas

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

He’s gonna get out of here. He’s going to get flushed. What a smart little guy!

Many people love the Finding Nemo* scenario…the aquarium trapped fish being released back into the wild. The problem is many of the fish in Texas aquariums aren’t from Texas.

Luci Cook-Hildreth is a Texas Parks and Wildlife projects coordinator in Inland Fisheries.

Even really really smart people sometimes don’t understand that a fish is not just a fish and water is not just water. They go, “I have a creek in my backyard, and I have a fish that’s too big for my tank. Well, why don’t I just set him free?” And they don’t understand that there’s a lot of biological and ecological ramifications to that decision.

Many of these fish end up thriving in Texas waters and out-competing native fish populations.

Cook-Hildreth says controlling what fish people own is practically impossible because of the Internet. Despite state laws, there seems to be a constant supply and demand for illegal species. And these fish can sometimes be expensive.

Folks that are interested in selling illegal fish have the potential to make thousands of dollars on these fish. And we can slap a fine on them, for 200 or 300 dollars, and it’s really just the cost of doing business for these folks.

So remember, by releasing your fish into the wild, you might just be endangering a lot more.

That’s our show…with research and writing help from Gretchen Mahan. For Texas Parks and Wildlife, I’m Cecilia Nasti.
_______________________________________________
*Finding Nemo is a Walt Disney Pictures/Pixar Animation Studios animated movie.

2 Responses to “Aquarium Fish Cause Trouble for Texas”

  1. Sergey Says:

    “So remember, by releasing your fish into the wild, you might just be endangering a lot more.”
    Thanks Cecilia Nasti! Really – many do not understand what harm can bring, at us in a city the mayor has decided a gift to make has brought fish children from the next region has let out – and the next region infected. (Excuse for language – badly I understand)

  2. Boris Says:

    Good idea! I support!