Invasive Fish Species Found in Mashpee Pond

(AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

MASHPEE – An invasive species of fish has been introduced into a Mashpee Pond.

A homeowner on Johns Pond notified Mashpee Conservation Agent Andrew McManus that he had spotted three or four koi fish swimming around his dock.

Koi, which are in the carp family, are gluttonous bottom feeders.

“By virtue of their feeding habit they can cause siltation of the water which can affect the water quality,” McManus said. “They can also decimate the aquatic vegetation in the water which can remove habit and eventually they would outcompete native species.”

The aquatic vegetation consumed by the koi serves as habitat for juvenile fish, cover and a food source.

McManus notified the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife about the presence of the fish in the pond who said there is really only one remedy.

“Basically, It’s just by fishing – bow and arrow, spear fishing or just normal pole fishing,” McManus said. “But that is really the only mechanism that you can use to try and get them out of the pond.”

McManus said it is still unknown how many koi are in the pond and if they are capable of reproducing.

“Sometimes koi fish are purchased that can’t reproduce,” he said.

If the fish are able to reproduce McManus believes impacts from their presence could happen in a few years.

McManus said they were probably dumped into the pond.

“Maybe they had a koi pond and just didn’t know what to do with the fish and thought it would be good just to return them to the water not knowing what sort of impact may result,” he said.

McManus said the first step is to make the public aware of the affects the species can cause to the ecosystem of local waters.

He does anticipate efforts will be taken to remove the fish from the pond which could be done with fishing derby events.

By BRIAN MERCHANT, CapeCod.com NewsCenter