(Editor’s Note: The following article was submitted from the Sherburne Soil & Water Conservation District).

How many of you had an aquarium as a child, or even today?  

The “fish bowl” of the past has evolved to a multi-billion-dollar industry with large elaborate tanks, freshwater and marine water environments, and exotic plants and animals being traded globally.  Aquariums are entertaining to watch, and a useful tool to teach one’s youth about freshwater and marine life.  However, as people have learned recently, with transporting plants and animals across the globe for aquarium use, people are increasing the opportunities for non-native introduction to our lakes and streams.

One may have read recently about zebra mussels being found in “moss balls” available at pet stores and aquarium shops.  The discovery was first noted by a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service inspection at a Seattle location, within a shipment of moss balls from Ukraine.  Soon, it became apparent that this discovery was not a localized issue but was occurring across the United States.  

State and Federal officials are working hard to identify locations where these moss balls may have been shipped to and remove these items from the shelves.  If one has purchased moss balls recently for an aquarium, one should treat the moss balls as if they contain zebra mussels and destroy by disposing in a sealed container in the trash.  Do not dump down a sink, flush down a toilet, or destroy in any other manner.  

Aquarium plants and animals should never be released into household plumbing or the natural environment.

It is speculated that numerous aquatic invasive species may have been transported across the globe due to aquarium trade.  The industry is seeing new regulations and oversight due to this threat.  Minnesota has identified numerous plants and animals that are given a status which makes it illegal to sell, buy or trade these species due to their potential threat to our waters.  

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has dedicated full-time staff to evaluating threats from the aquarium industry and working closely with industry professionals to minimize threats.  

More information on aquariums and aquatic invasive species can be found here:  https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/pet-and-aquarium-businesses.html.