XENIA — A type of fish has invaded a park pond in Xenia and needs to be removed.
News Center 7′s Kayla McDermott met with city officials Tuesday to discuss the plans to remove the fish in Shawnee Park.
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There are many different types of fish in the park’s pond, and a type of carp living in the pond is hurting other fish and the ecosystem.
“Bluegill, crappie, catfish - a buddy of mine caught a rainbow trout the other day,” Steve Wisecup said of the different types of fish he has caught.
Wisecup was hoping to catch another type of fish.
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“Mainly after catfish. I just catch it throw it back,” Wishcup said.
However, there is one type of fish, the bighead carp is not supposed to be in the pond.
“You really only see those like in the Ohio River, large rivers, Mississippi River,” Xenia’s Pubic Service Director and City Engineer Chris Berger said.
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This type of carp is invasive to all bodies of water.
“They’re bad boys. It’s harmful to the ecosystem. I think of all the things that plants and the other fish in here,” Berger said.
This particular type of carp had to be introduced into the man-made pond by someone, which is against the law, Berger told McDermott.
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“They are illegal ... to even possess one,” Berger said.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the City of Xenia do have a plan in place to remove the carp by adding an electric current to the water at no cost taxpayers.
“It’s just a temporary shock to temporarily stun the fish there so they can capture them,” Berger said.
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Once the carp are removed from the pond, they will be euthanized. This action will make sure they will not harm any of our other ecosystems.
Wiscup said he has not caught any of the carp but is glad the problem is being handled.
“You never really know what’s in this pond. Yeah, never really know,” Wisecup said.
It will take the next two days to clear the fish and no one will be allowed to the fish at the pond until Friday.
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