Viral images on social media of giant goldfish pulled from a Minnesota lake are reigniting concerns about invasive aquatic pets breeding in fragile ecosystems, and scientists say the problem is getting worse in Canada. This clouds the water and makes it more difficult for plants and native fish species to thrive there, he said. "In the worst-case scenario, you go from a clear lake dominated by plants, to a muddy lake dominated by algae." "We have about 180 aquatic invasive species in the Great Lakes [alone] and every one of those adds to the problem and changes the ecosystem." "The major causes of that are: climate change, habitat loss and invasive species … We are starting more and more to see a standard list of five to six species found everywhere."

Source: CBC News July 13, 2021 20:15 UTC