WHY IS IT ILLEGAL TO DUMP GOLDFISH? I MAY SOUND SALTY, YET I DIGRESS- DUMPING GOLDFISH INTO THE WILD IS ILLEGAL AND PUNISHABLE BY HEAVY FINES BECAUSE THEY ARE CONSIDERED A HIGHLY DESTRUCTIVE INVASIVE SPECIES. WHEN RELEASED, THEY ADAPT RAPIDLY, BALLOON TO MASSIVE SIZES, OUTCOMPETE NATIVE WILDLIFE AND DEVASTATE LOCAL WATER ECOSYSTEMS.