Fines of up to $120k for dumping pet fish in Adelaide river

Key points

• Adelaide residents are being urged not to release koi carp or unwanted goldfish into the River Torrens. More than a dozen suspected koi were seen at Hackney last week, with a smaller number upstream at Dernancourt.
• Green Adelaide suspects members of the public released the fish. Koi are a noxious species in South Australia and cannot be owned without a permit.
• Dumping koi, goldfish or other non-native fish in South Australian rivers can attract fines of up to $120,000. Green Adelaide says koi compete with native fish for food and disturb river plants.