Residents of West Edmonton are voicing strong opposition to plans aimed at removing invasive goldfish from community stormwater ponds. EPCOR, Edmonton’s utility company, is mandated by law to address the issue before the goldfish spread to the North Saskatchewan River.
These goldfish, often former pets discarded into local ponds, can overwhelm native species and disrupt local ecosystems. To combat this, EPCOR plans to use rotenone, a natural insecticide derived from plants that specifically targets fish. Rotenone affects only organisms with gills, so it poses no harm to pets, humans, or other wildlife and vegetation.
Despite the use of rotenone being deemed safe for the environment, residents are concerned. They highlight that the $100,000 fine for releasing goldfish into the wild in Alberta is not proving effective as a deterrent. As a result, there is growing advocacy for an outright ban on the sale of goldfish to prevent future problems.
