A Minnesota DNR fisheries crew netted an unusual fish during a routine fisheries census of Caribou Lake, near Duluth.

“We were completely startled,” said John Meerbeek, one of two DNR employees who netted a Lima shovelnose catfish in July. “Even before we untangled it, we could tell it wasn’t native. We figured it was an aquarium fish.”

Doug Jensen, Minnesota Sea Grant’s aquatic invasive species program coordinator, says the catfish is an Amazon River native. It died a few days after capture and now rests preserved in a jar on Jensen’s desk as part of his educational arsenal of preserved invaders.
“Unfortunately, this release is a local example of aquarium releases occurring across the country,” said Jensen. “Many fish, plants, snails, crayfish and other animals are being found in places where they don’t belong.”

These releases can harm the outcast organisms and the environment. Once released, non-native animals and plants can impair water quality, compete with native species, and carry diseases that may be transmitted to native fish. Dumping aquarium contents is illegal in Minnesota.