One minute you're a pet goldfish, the next you're an aquatic pest.
That at least is the way it has turned out for 200 of the little fish that have been discovered living in Albert Town's Riverside Park pond.
The fish were spotted recently by a resident and their presence confirmed by a Department of Conservation site visit that found a ''large shoal'' .
Conservation services manager Chris Sydney believes the goldfish were put there deliberately by someone emptying a pond or aquarium.
''It is exactly this sort of action that can spread nasty aquatic pests into waterways. Introduced weed and fish species ... can destroy the natural state of rivers, streams, lakes and other water bodies,'' Mr Sydney said in a statement yesterday.
It would be ''far easier'' to deal with the fish in the pond than if they were in a large waterway.
''The goldfish congregate in a single finger of the Riverside Park pond allowing for a relatively straightforward removal operation.''
Doc rangers will use an electric stunning device and nets to capture the fish next week. A Doc spokeswoman said ''responsible'' homes had been found for them, although fish in poor condition might be euthanised.
