Another invasive species, thanks alot Europe

[MuskieBait]

BTW...

This is not to say we'll just accept it.

This is to say let's not lay blame to the continent of Europe or Asia or Africa or Australia or South America.

The continent and the people there is not the blame.

The root of these issues are 1) international trade and 2) "well meaning" introductions

We definitely need to tighten pest control from international trade. A lot of insects arrive through wooden crates. We need to push for treated wood and enforce that to reduce the chance that insects arrive from our soil.

We need to tighten the control on ballast water release. If a ship is coming from the Mediterranean Sea, there should be a first release and refill just off the continental shelf of Europe, and then a second release and refill in the middle of the Atlantic, and a third release and refill just off the continental shelf of North America. Further release and refill should be done as a ship progress inland.

We cannot stop international trade. That's what the world runs on right now. If it was not for international trade, and products from Asia, you will not be getting your beginner fishing rod and reel for $20-30. You will not get your jigs and plastic lures for cheap. So bad mouth Asia and their pest all you like, bad mouth globalization all you like, but the bottom line speaks...and as far as I know, most anglers rather save a few bucks rather than shell extra for a local made premium product (unless the quality justify the cost).

As for "well meaning" releases, such as intentional release to create new fishery (everyone wants bass and trout everywhere...how boring and starving of biodiversity!), introduction to control pest (peacock bass, grass carp, mosquitofish...etc), or to add new aquaculture potential (Atlantic Salmon, Pacific Salmon, Asian Carp, many cichlid species in Florida...etc)...these are all things that we CAN control...and we should push government to restrict these activities much more.

Again, there is no one to blame but ourselves for turning a blind eye, and then complaining in the end...

The best means to combat these issue is be proactive, vigilant and forward thinking...

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And I really don't understand...

Australia and New Zealand have such beautiful native galaxias species that resembles trout so much...and were pursued by anglers with fly gear in similar fashion to trout...why do they want to stock the $hitty brown trout and rainbow trout and outcompete the natives...sigh...

Spotted Galaxias (Galaxias truttaceus)



Giant Kokopu (Galaxias argenteus)



** The are quite high on my bucket list...one day...hopefully before they go extinct...

Again...our stupid backwards fetish for trout and bass...anglers need to broaden their scope and widen their appreciation for all fish big and small...and unless that is accomplished, single-minded anglers will continue to introduce foreign species with "well intentions" and completely destroy the native ecosystem.