The Natural Resources Center (Luke) announced on Thursday that two new non-native fish species have been found in southwestern Finland.
The Natural Resources Center suspects the fish were illegally imported and released into the wild.
Species that have never been previously reported in Finland are the common nase (Chondrostoma nasus) and European bitter (Rhodeus amarus). The fish were found in another alien species, pumpkin seeds (Lepomis gibbosus).
Luke says that gases are found naturally in rivers in Central Europe. The bitters originate in the northern Black Sea, but have spread north and west for a long time.
"Bitters were also found in Estonia in 2019. Their nearest common distribution area is now in Poland. It is probable that someone brought the species in and released it into this pond in southwestern Finland," Luke said Thursday.
According to Luke’s researchers, it is not yet clear what effects other fish may have on other pond species.
“Playing Russian roulette with Finnish nature”
"The gases are known to carry liver cells, parasites that can also affect humans, and can be transferred to other bodies of water through intermediate hosts, such as birds. Bitters can carry diseases that can infect salmonids. Importing and conserving alien fish species without control is like playing Russian roulette with Finnish nature," said Lauri Urho, I read a senior scientist who found fish.
Luke points out that the import of live fish into Finland and their release into water bodies requires a permit.
During the last 30 years, 10 new fish species have been found in Finland. Nine of them have been alien species that have entered the waters of the earth through human activity.
Source: The Nordic Page