Efforts are underway by Parks Canada Staff at Kejimkujik National Park to stop a potentially devastating invasive fish species from spreading within the already fragile ecosystem of the lake.
Chris McCarthy is the Resource Conservation Manager at Kejimkujik National Park and historic Site.
He says they have now found two extremely invasive Chain Pickerel that will eat almost anything.
“They’ll eat invertebrates, dragonflies, frogs, turtles, even water fowl chicks and they are going to be a big challenge for us to manage,” says McCarthy.
McCarthy says they’ve already put in temporary barriers to protect the system including two fish fences and blocking nets until they can get a more permanent barrier in place.
“The intention is to put a permanent barrier in there and we would have to move the native species above and below, but that should keep out the invasive species,” adds McCarthy.
Officials at the park have been expecting to see invasive species show up at some point during the last two years or so, including small and large mouth bass which are also categorized as invasive species.
Story by Craig Power
