Monday, June 20, 2011

pest fish: carp koi





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This story breaks my heart. About twenty years ago, I listened to a talkback radio. They were talking about the Koi or Japanese Carp. At that time, there were talks about how this beautiful fish is very expensive and people in Asia like to keep them in their ponds or tanks.

A beautiful koi can cost over $100,000. In New Zealand, we protect our waterways and Koi is banned because it is a pest fish and disturbs the ecology of the environment. The koi tastes like wire guaze because it has so many bones. There were talks about people smuggling the Koi in.

16 years in Singapire, I saw plenty of Kois and how expensive they were.

I came back to New Zealand five years ago, and I saw dead Koi in some fish markets. They were selling for $1.60 a kilo. I thought of the wire guaze. I asked my fish monger, do they taste good? He replied with a smirk," What do you expect for $1.60?

Recently I watched a documentary about a lake in the Waikato river. The lake was choked with this Koi. Apparently some people had smauggled them in as a ornamental fish, but thet got too much and they were released in the water way. The Chinese have a custom of FIONG SAN, releasing alive. These fish multiply and kill off the native fish. The Koi had have a dredge like mouth which prevents native water weeds from growing.

To save the world, please don't FIONG SAN. Don't smuggle fish. They are on the illegal list for a reason.

These photos were taken in a golf club in Singapore.

17 comments:

Rajesh said...

Beautiful and colorful fishes.

Kay L. Davies said...

Had to laugh at Rajesh's comment. O well, he's right, they are beautiful and colorful, but I know they don't taste good and are full of bones. Hundreds of bones. And fish-smuggling is as bad as any other kind of smuggling, illegally introducing a species into an environment where they cause damage and therefore are banned for that reason.
Unfortunately, many people have no idea how serious a crime this can be.
Thank you for passing on the information, Ann.
— K

Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

Anonymous said...

they are beautiful, but i didn't know that about them.

Sylvia K said...

They are beautiful and colorful even if no one eats them. I didn't know this about them either. Very interesting and informative post, Ann! Have a great week!

Sylvia

sush said...

interesting looking and colourful fishies.

fjällripan said...

Thats terrible! Interesting information about this beautiful fish from you :)

Unknown said...

aiyah...i got loads of them at my home pond. AND, i didnt know boleh makan? how odd....I dont think anyone eat them here and sure..they can be very expensive at times too, but ours are the cheaper version. Gauze wire...no thanks..dont think I'll try. Hope all's well with you and family...durian season here..its always here and we have the latest species..cant remember the name, but it was really good and yummy!!! there, how's that to get you thinking and salivating over durian haha!!!

Reader Wil said...

Hi Ann! I didn't know that these fish were such a pest! There are people here who like to have them.
Thanks for your comment about the wizard. He is now 78 1/2 years old. Exactly a year older than I am.Fancy that he came uninvited to your party! Did you speak with him?

anemonen said...

Beautiful fishes!

LilliStJohn said...

Someone did a similar thing to a nice lake in Saint John, NB, Canada and now it is over run with pesty fish that pollute - swimming in the lake I would not do as I do not flavour crappola eating - YUCH. Too bad, because in a controlled pond, the fish are most beautiful.
Nice Post and very interesting.
Cheers
Lilly

Reader Wil said...

Hi Ann! Why does the Wizart take followers in a boat and why do they have to be counted? Why did he lose his credibility by leaving Christchurch? Another New Zealander once wrote that his house was burnt down years ago.

Reader Wil said...

Thanks Ann for your answer. As far as I can see he is just an interesting, intelligent but wacky person. He has a point when he says that some powers are stronger than the wizard's. He cannot perform magic, can he? He is just a phenomenon and I wouldn't take him seriously.

Ensurai said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Ensurai said...

Kois are symbols of peaceful adjustment in Chinese art. The Japanese love them too in their gardens. But too many of them can indeed cause trouble to the environment.

The saying goes...one thing good but not two...wu suoh hoh more lan hoh...(Foochow pin yin)...

We need to balance our life ..and I disagree with inflated prices of Koi...The idea of Killer Price is not in my life. Sar Chia...

Anonymous said...

i really wish people would have more respect for our planet & not bring animals/fish etc in where they are not supposed to be

SandyCarlson said...

I hear you. We need to respect the balance, or respect balance, and help establish it. Such beauties have their place and shouldn't become pests.

Unknown said...

Diy koi Weaponsmith Hata Grondin is hooked on koi pond live theatre, blogging. She catches her inspiration through enjoying a Philadelphia flyers ice-hockey match positioned inside the stadium.