The next time your goldfish dies, you may want to think twice before flushing it down the toilet.
California scientists say non-native species of fish and plants are infesting the ocean.
Susan Williams, lead author of the report and an evolution and ecology professor at the University of California, Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory, said millions of types of exotic fish are imported through Golden State ports every year.
And of those millions, nine types of species, linked to aquarium dumping, have thrived in California waters.
"They don't belong here. When they establish, they can out-eat or out-compete our native species," said Williams.
Chris Jellison works at the Trop-Aquarium and Pet Center in Watsonville.
He said people come in all the time, wondering what to do with unwanted fish.
Many times, with good intentions, pet owners think dropping fish in the ocean would be like setting them free.
Biologists and fish-store owners want to dispel this myth
"Most of the fish that we carry are used to high temperatures, like 76-80 degrees. With our ocean at such a cold temperature, just the temperature difference alone, the fish won't survive. If the fish does end up surviving, it could really become such an invasive species and either pick of the fish that we have or just multiply to an extent that it's not helpful for our own bay," said Jellison.
