Invasive Fish

Last updated on December 18, 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​

Amur goby (PDF, 904KB)
Rhinogobius brunneus

Bighead carp (PDF, 619KB)
Hypophthalmichthys nobilis

Bitterling (PDF, 479KB)
Rhodeus species

Black carp (PDF, 619KB)
Mylopharyngodon piceus

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

Channel catfish (PDF, 341KB)
Ictalurus punctatus

Grass carp (PDF, 619KB)
Ctenopharyngodon idella

Green sunfish
Lepomis cyanellus​

Monkey goby (PDF, 904KB)
Neogobius fluviatilis

Muskellunge
Esox masquinongy

Northern snakehead (PDF, 528KB)
Channa argus​

Prussian carp
Carassius gibelio

Rainbow snakehead (PDF, 528KB)
Channa bleheri​

Rock bass
Ambloplites rupestri​s

Round goby (PDF, 904KB)
Neogobius melanostomus

Silver carp (PDF, 619KB)
Hypophthalmichthys molitrix

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

Tubenose goby (PDF, 904KB)
Proterorhinus semilunaris

Tui chub
Gila bicolor​

Warmouth
Lepomis gulosus​

Provincial EDRR

Provincial EDRR

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

Oriental weatherloach (PDF, 747KB)
Misgurnus anguillicaudatus

 

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 bullhead (PDF, 559KB)
Ameiurus melas

Black crappie
Pomoxis nigromaculatus

Bluegill sunfish
Lepomis macrochirus

Brown bullhead (PDF, 559KB)
Ameiurus nebulosus​

Common carp (PDF, 1.9MB)
Cyprinus carpio​

Largemouth bass (PDF, 522KB)
Micropterus salmoides

Smallmouth bass (PDF, 592KB)
Micropterus dolomieu

Tench (PDF, 566KB)
Tinca tinca

 

Walleye (southern B.C.)
Sander vitreus​

 

Yellow bullhead (PDF, 559KB)
Ameiurus natalis

 

 

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

Report invasive species before they cause harm.

Report