Hundreds of goldfish found illegally dumped in Utah pond. Here’s why that’s a problem

Illegal fish introductions seldom improve fisheries — instead, illegal introductions typically ruin fisheries and threaten the species that live there.–Randy Oplinger, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources sportfish coordinatorWhile most cases have involved community ponds, the division notes there have been at least a half -dozen illegal dumping cases at reservoirs over the past two decades. The most recent of those came when biologists found yellow perch, bluegill and green sunfish at Kolob Reservoir in southern Utah four years ago. The three species “wreaked havoc on the fishery,” resulting in the division using rotenone that year to clear out all the fish in the reservoir, division officials said.

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