Giant mutated goldfish plague Australian rivers

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https://www.odt.co.nz/news/australia/giant-goldfish-roam-aussie-rivers

>Unwanted former pet goldfish that have grown to the size of footballs are travelling hundreds of kilometres through Western Australian waterways, new research has found.

>Weighing up to 1.9kg, the goldfish enter river systems after being dumped from aquariums into catchment lakes.

>Once established they are difficult to eradicate and damage Australian ecosystems, Murdoch University researchers have found.

>The nutrient rich Vasse River south of Perth has allowed the fish to thrive and they have the fastest known individual growth rate of the species in the world.

>Dr Stephen Beatty and researchers from the university's Centre of Fish and Fisheries used acoustic receivers along the river to examine the movement patterns of the introduced goldfish population for 12 months.

>"Our research discovered the fish displayed significant seasonal shift habits during breeding season, with one fish moving 230km during the year," he said.

>Goldfish are native to eastern Asia and are considered one of the world's most invasive aquatic species.

>Dr Beatty said the invasive fish has the potential to impact water quality, introduce disease, disturb habitat and compete with native species putting them under serious pressure.

>He advises people to not release pet fish into waterways, but to return them to pet stores if they're unwanted.