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Invasive fish species from the US found in Aydos Pond

A social media user who collects live specimens and creates biotope aquariums has discovered the invasive pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus) fish species in the Aydos Pond in Samandıra.

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A new addition has been made to the invasive fish species that have been increasing in our seas, particularly in the Mediterranean, Aegean, and others, due to the effects of global warming. 

Collecting live specimens at the Aydos Pond in Samandıra, Emrah Ece, a social media user, stated that the pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus), whose natural habitat is the USA, had been released into this area.

Ece said the following in his post:

'IT DOES NOT BELONG TO OUR COUNTRY, IT IS INVASIVE'

"I have been observing aquatic areas as a hobby for years, collecting live specimens and setting up biotope aquariums. I caught a bunch of these beauties in a pond I hadn't visited for a few years. This pumpkinseed does not belong to our country and is an invasive species. Which genius is releasing these?"


'DO NOT RELEASE THEM BACK WHERE YOU CAUGHT THEM'

The place where I found them is the Samandıra Aydos Pond; this fish was not in this pond before, and it used to be full of various types of fish, but now most of them have disappeared or significantly decreased. This fish does not belong to that ecosystem and is harming native species.

I now believe that these invasive species are being intentionally released into our inland waters; a few years ago, an American was caught while stocking fish in a dam. This fish is not really eaten, and it is not popular among aquarium hobbyists, so it has no value.

Not only is it worthless, but it also threatens the ecological balance of our wetlands. We must protect the soil, forests, and water of our homeland, for which we say 'I would die for the flow of its river.' Please do not release foreign species like this back into the place where you caught them, and do not stock them elsewhere."

WHAT IS A PUMPKINSEED?

The pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus) is a freshwater fish native to North America. It is particularly common in the eastern and midwestern regions of the United States. However, because it has been transported to other regions by humans, it can now be found in Europe, Asia, and Africa. In Europe, it has spread to countries such as France, Spain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Turkey. This fish species generally lives in lakes, rivers, dams, and ponds and can have negative effects on ecosystems.