Voracious piranha-like perch are spreading in Kyiv's water bodies

In Kyiv’s Verbne Lake, anglers spotted a sunfish—an invasive species, that is, a fish native to North America that has been introduced and is gradually spreading throughout the capital’s bodies of water. It is now impossible to eradicate it.

According to Leonid Izergin, director of the Institute of Fisheries, Marine Ecology, and Oceanography, this fish poses no direct danger to humans and does not attack swimmers. The only caution concerns the sharp, spiny rays of its fins, which can prick you if you’re not careful when catching it.

Despite being safe for humans, this species is on the “blacklist” of invasive species and is displacing the local fish population. Due to its high ecological plasticity, aggressive behavior during spawning, and voracious appetite, it has been nicknamed the “piranha bass.” The sun bass actively competes with native fish for food, preying on aquatic invertebrates and disrupting the spawning of other species.

Since it is no longer possible to completely eradicate this species from the water bodies of the Dnieper River basin, scientists are calling for measures to curb its further spread. Experts emphasize the importance of human oversight, specifically banning the release of aquarium fish into natural bodies of water, restricting the use of live sun perch as bait during fishing, and prohibiting the release of caught specimens back into the water.

Source: RBC-Ukraine.