Discarded goldfish are taking over Hamilton's harbour

Goldfish are the most dominant species in the Royal Botanical Gardens's fish habitat right now. (Royal Botanical Gardens) [photo]

CBC

   Have you ever dumped your goldfish in Hamilton Harbour? Here's the bad news: it's been breeding. 

Researchers at the Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) have counted as many as two million large and small goldfish this year, fish that are likely descendants of people dropping unwanted pets in the water.

   Now there are so many that they're throwing another wrench into attempts to rehabilitate the bay. 

This year, the RBG team has counted as many as 2,500 large goldfish and two million young, said Tys Theysmeyer, head of natural lands with the Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG). They seem to be thriving thanks to climate change, and poor water conditions that have discouraged native species from flourishing...Continue reading...