Invasive Fish

Last updated on January 31, 2024

Invasive fish are fish from one part of the world that are transported, or migrate due to climate change, beyond their natural range and become established in a new area where they can cause potential harm to native ecosystems.

There are 5 priority categories for fish which determine the province's response.  

  1. Prevent
  2. Early detection and rapid response (EDRR)
  3. Provincial Containment
  4. Regional containment/control
  5. Management

The fish on this page are organized into these categories. 

Prevent

Species determined to be high risk to B.C. and not yet established. Management objective is prevent the introduction and establishment.

American shad
Alosa sapidissima​

Bitterling (PDF, 479KB)
Rhodeus species

Grass carp (PDF, 619KB)
Ctenopharyngodon idella

Muskellunge
Esox masquinongy

Rock bass
Ambloplites rupestri​s

Northern snakehead (PDF, 528KB)
Channa maculata​

Spottail shiner (native in northeastern B.C.)
Notropis hudsonius​

Warmouth
Lepomis gulosus​

Amur goby (PDF, 904KB)
Rhinogobius brunneus

Black carp (PDF, 619KB)
Mylopharyngodon piceus

Green sunfish
Lepomis cyanellus​

Prussian carp
Carassius gibelio

Round goby (PDF, 904KB)
Neogobius melanostomus

Blotched snakehead (PDF, 528KB)
Channa argus â€‹

Tubenose goby (PDF, 904KB)
Proterorhinus semilunaris

Western mosquitofish (PDF, 376KB)
Gambusia affinis

Bighead carp (PDF, 619KB)
Hypophthalmichthys nobilis

Channel catfish (PDF, 341KB)
Ictalurus punctatus

Monkey goby (PDF, 904KB)
Neogobius fluviatilis

Red bellied piranha
Pygocentrus nattereri​

Silver carp (PDF, 619KB)
Hypophthalmichthys molitrix

Rainbow snakehead
Channa bleheri​

Tui chub
Gila bicolor​

White cloud mountain minnow (PDF, 495KB)
Tanichthys albonubes

Provincial EDRR

Provincial EDRR

Species is high risk to B.C. and is new to the Province. Management objective is eradication.

Oriental weatherfish (PDF, 747KB)
Misgurnus anguillicaudatus

Rosy red minnow/Fat head minnow
Pimephales promelas

 

Regional containment/control

Species is high risk and well established, or medium risk with high potential for spread. Management objective is to prevent further expansion into new areas within the region through establishment of containment lines and identification of occurrences outside the line to control.

Goldfish (PDF, 518KB)
Carassius auratus

Northern pike (southern B.C.)
Esox lucius

Management

Species is more widespread but may be of concern in specific situations with certain high values - e.g., conservation lands, specific agriculture crops.  Management objective is to reduce the invasive species impacts locally or regionally, where resources are available.

Black crappie
Pomoxis nigromaculatus

Brown bullhead (PDF, 559KB)
Ameiurus natalis​

Pumpkinseed sunfish
Lepomis gibbosus

Walleye (southern B.C.)
Sander vitreus​

Bluegill sunfish
Lepomis macrochirus

Common carp
Cyprinus carpio​

Smallmouth bass (PDF, 592KB)
Micropterus dolomieu

Yellow bullhead (PDF, 559KB)
Ameiurus melas

Black bullhead (PDF, 559KB)
Ameiurus nebulosus

Largemouth bass (PDF, 522KB)
Micropterus salmoides

Tench (PDF, 566KB)
Tinca tinca

 

Report sightings
Image of largemouth bass. Photo credit: Doug Watkinson

Report invasive species before they cause harm.

Report