Don't let it loose

Learn about the “don’t let it loose” slogan that is used to communicate the importance of not dumping non-native species including the following, into municipal wastewater systems, man-made ponds (e.g., stormwater ponds) or bodies of water:

aquarium pets (e.g., fish, crayfish)
water garden plants
live food (e.g., fish, crabs, shellfish, snails)
live bait
sport fish

Why you shouldn’t release aquatic species

Aquarium pets, water garden plants, live food, live bait and sport fish can become aquatic invasive species if they are released into our waters. They can establish themselves in our waters and spread rapidly when they don’t face natural predators or competitors. They can also harm our environment, economy and society. So, never dump these aquatic species into:

rivers
streams
lakes
ponds
storm sewers
the ocean

Remember: don’t let it loose. In fact, under the federal Aquatic Invasive Species Regulations, it is illegal to introduce an aquatic species into a body of water where it is not native, unless authorized under federal, provincial or territorial law.

Aquarium pets

Aquarium pets are aquatic species sold for use indoors in aquariums and outdoors in ornamental ponds. Some people may intentionally release their pets that:

become too large
are too difficult to care for
they no longer want

Some owners may think that releasing a pet is the most compassionate thing to do, but this is not true. Domestic pets generally do not have the survival skills to live beyond their tank or pond. They can starve to death or may be eaten by predators in the wild. In some cases, they may survive, reproduce, spread and become an aquatic invasive species. Even if your pet is native to the local environment, it should never be released as it may be carrying diseases or parasites. Goldfish and Marbled Crayfish are some examples of an aquarium pet that if introduced, can spread and become an aquatic invasive species.

A photo of numerous large Goldfish laid out on a table. — Goldfish

A photo of a crayfish commonly known as Marbled Crayfish. — Marbled Crayfish. Photo credit: Klaus Rudloff

What you should do to reduce the risk of unwanted pets:

research pets before buying or adopting in order to fully understand what you are committing to
know what pets are legal to own and only buy from retailers whose species are properly labeled, especially when buying online

What you should do when you no longer want to keep your pet:

Find someone to adopt your pet by asking a friend, using social media or advertising online, etc.
contact the pet store or place where you purchased your pet to see if they can take it back
research other places that may be able to provide a home for your pet
end ownership by seeking a qualified veterinarian to euthanize your pet in a humane manner
when a fish is dead, instead of flushing it down the toilet, bury it (as permitted by provincial/territorial/municipal laws) so it can’t spread diseases
don’t let it loose

Water garden plants

A photo of an aquatic plant commonly known as Parrotfeather. — Parrotfeather

Water garden plants consist of aquatic species sold for use indoors in aquariums or outdoors in ornamental ponds and water gardens. Some people may intentionally release their water garden plants if they become too difficult to care for or they no longer want them. They can also be unintentionally introduced if they escape naturally (e.g. seeds spreading) or during unexpected overflow events (e.g. flooding). Even small pieces and seeds from water garden plants can thrive and cause an invasion. Parrotfeather is an example of a water garden plant that was introduced, spread and became an aquatic invasive species.

What you should do to reduce the risk of spreading invasive water garden plants:

know what plants are legal to own and only buy from retailers whose species are properly labeled, especially when buying online
select outdoor plants that are native to your region as they will be more likely to thrive and are better suited for local species to interact with and to benefit from
ensure water gardens and ponds are contained with no chance of any species or water escaping into other waterbodies
ensure any water that is released is done on land and away from:
- household drains
- sewers
- other bodies of water
dry and freeze non-native plants in tightly sealed bags before throwing them into the trash (do not compost them)
don’t let it loose

Live food

Live food consists of any fish or aquatic species imported or transferred live within Canada for human consumption. Some people may intentionally release live food (e.g. fish, crabs, shellfish) from grocery stores or fish markets into the wild as an act of compassion or mercy. This can be harmful to both the released animal (which may not survive in the new environment) or to native species if it becomes invasive. Northern Snakehead and Chinese Mitten Crab are examples of a live food that could be introduced, spread and become an aquatic invasive species. Snakehead is not found in any natural waters in Canada.

A photo of a fish commonly known as Northern Snakehead. — Northern Snakehead

A photo of a crab commonly known as Chinese Mitten Crab. — Chinese Mitten Crab

What you should do to reduce the risk of spreading live food:

ensure all of the food you purchase is dead before leaving the store, when appropriate
if you practice compassion or mercy release for religious or cultural reasons, consider alternatives:
- volunteer with wildlife sanctuaries that release animals back into their natural environment
don’t let it loose

Live bait

Live bait consists of the public and commercial use of live organisms to catch larger fish. Recreational anglers may collect their own or buy commercially-sold live bait. Some people may intentionally dump their live bait or the contents of a bait bucket into a waterbody when they are done fishing. This can lead to an invasion. If the bait being used is an aquatic invasive species, dumping it could lead to its introduction and establishment. For example, young invasive carps can easily be mistaken for local minnows. If the bait is not local to the water body, there is also risk of the spread of pathogens or diseases among native fish. Rudd is an example of live bait that was accidentally introduced, spread and became an aquatic invasive species.

What you should do to reduce the risk of spreading invasive live bait:

use artificial bait as a safer alternative when fishing
always buy bait from dealers that follow the fishery regulations
check the fishery regulations in your province or territory regarding bait use and movement of live bait
if allowed by the fishery regulations in your province or territory, use live bait that was caught from the waterbody you are fishing in
dispose of unused bait, dead fish, fish parts and water or debris from bait buckets in a secure trash area at least 30 metres away from the shore before leaving a waterbody
don’t let it loose

Sport fish

Sport fish are fish that are popular for angling. Some people may intentionally release sport fish without authorization in new waterbodies to create angling opportunities. This is illegal and should not be done. Sport fish may only be released back into the waters from which they were caught (i.e., catch-and-release) and never moved from one body of water to another. Even species that are native in some parts of Canada can become invasive beyond their natural range. Examples of non-native fish that have been illegally moved within Canada for recreational fishing purposes and have caused significant damage include: