This subject seems to come up often but I can't recall a dedicated thread for it. Each and every state in the union has laws against release of any fish (native or otherwise) into the natural waters of the state. The law will usually read something like this..."May release fish immediately upon capture into the waters from which it was removed". There are so many points to cover when talking about this horrible practice I think I'll only try and begin cover one for now.
In the image you'll see two little headwater creeks in my home state. If you were to take fish from one stream and place them in the other you might think what the heck...the streams are within walking distance, what could that hurt. This might be walking distance for you and me but these two creeks happen to be separated by over 1000 river miles. The fish the live in these streams might look the same to you and me but I'll be in the future we might learn these fish have distinct attributes that time from living this great water distance apart have created. If the fishes that you introduce spawn with the existing and potentially distinct population the fish are permanently destroyed. This is simply something you cannot "undo"
Since this just one aspect (that even hasn't been fully covered) I hope others can add to the list of damaging effects release can bring to not only the wild fish but our hobby as a whole.
In the image you'll see two little headwater creeks in my home state. If you were to take fish from one stream and place them in the other you might think what the heck...the streams are within walking distance, what could that hurt. This might be walking distance for you and me but these two creeks happen to be separated by over 1000 river miles. The fish the live in these streams might look the same to you and me but I'll be in the future we might learn these fish have distinct attributes that time from living this great water distance apart have created. If the fishes that you introduce spawn with the existing and potentially distinct population the fish are permanently destroyed. This is simply something you cannot "undo"
Since this just one aspect (that even hasn't been fully covered) I hope others can add to the list of damaging effects release can bring to not only the wild fish but our hobby as a whole.
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