FG Black Bass in Sendai

[Captain Japan]

Invading black bass oust native birds
The Asahi Shimbun

SENDAI-Alien infiltrators are to blame for the decimation of native waterfowl numbers in one of Japan's wetland preserves, researchers report.

The researchers blame the decade-long drop on voracious black bass, a non-native species of fish that sport fishermen likely introduced into the lakes and rivers.

Black bass are notorious for gobbling every fish in sight-leaving nothing for the native water birds.

``The main reason for the drop in aquatic birds is that the black bass are eating up all the small fry that the birds feed on,'' said Tetsuo Shimada, a researcher at the Miyagi Prefectural Izunuma-Uchinuma Environmental Foundation.

The group has counted the birds inhabiting the Izunuma Uchinuma marshland in northern Miyagi Prefecture several times a month for 10 years.

[Mulboyne]

Asahi: End of the line for destructive black bass
It almost slipped through the net for another six months, but in the end a determined environment minister won the battle over the largemouth bass, a voracious nonnative fish beloved of sports fishermen but considered a threat to the Japanese ecosystem. Declaring herself "dissatisfied" with a committee's decision to wait six more months to settle the debate over the bass's fate, Environment Minister Yuriko Koike got the ministry to reverse course and list the fish as an invasive alien species. The move clears the way for the fish's eradication from Japanese lakes.

[Taro Toporific]

BASS Busters' going fishing for unwelcome non-native species
Asahi Shimbun, Japan -July 19, 2005
... Under the Invasive Alien Species Act, which took effect June 1, importing, raising and transporting North American black bass is illegal in Japan...[The bASS BUSTERS] are fighting the bass with artificial breeding beds, consisting of plant trays laid in the marshes. The fish are tricked into spawning on them. It's the "Izunuma method."
"This is a break-through method for catching the bass in this muddy marsh water," said Katsuki Nakai, chief curator of the Shiga Prefectural Lake Biwako Museum. Lake Biwako is also plagued by the bass....
This year, the beds were put down in 400 places in the marsh. Since May, eggs have been taken from more than 200 of them, along with baby fish and adult bass protecting the eggs.. ... more...

[Greji]

Asahi: End of the line for destructive black bassEnvironment Minister Yuriko Koike got the ministry to reverse course and list the fish as an invasive alien species. The move clears the way for the fish's eradication from Japanese lakes.

I wonder if I'm also listed on the invasive alien list?

[Captain Japan]

I wonder if I'm also listed on the invasive alien list?

Alien beach plants pose threat to native flora
Asahi

Evening primrose may look pretty, but it and other nonnative plants are threatening the ecosystem of the nation's beaches, according to the Nature Conservation Society of Japan.

The results of the nongovernmental group's nationwide survey, begun in March 2004, show that foreign species have been found at more than 200 of the 723 beaches examined. To date the survey has covered 26 prefectures.

Evening primrose, which is native to North America, was found at 205 beaches in 18 prefectures, including Chiba, Mie, Ehime and Kagoshima.

Yucca whipplei, more commonly known as Our Lord's Candle, has made inroads into seven beaches in six prefectures, while Diodia teres buttonweed has been found at 17 places in seven prefectures.

Invasive alien species are not the only problem.

Beach flora also suffers from the impact of civil engineering work designed to "protect" the shores, typhoon damage and tidal erosion and the illegal dumping of waste. In addition, people are trampling plants underfoot....more...

[GomiGirl]

Ecosystem on beaches?? isn't is all just concreted over anyway???

[Taro Toporific]

Ecosystem on beaches?? isn't is all just concreted over anyway???

That is not true. The Japanese Ministry of Destruction has mandated that 10% of the coastline shall remain free of concrete and open for toxic and bio-waste dumping.

[GomiGirl]

That is not true. The Japanese Ministry of Destruction has mandated that 10% of the coastline shall remain free of concrete and open for toxic and bio-waste dumping.

Sorry - my bad.

[sublight]

Scientists say that the alien bass species poses a particular threat to the local ecosystem because it breeds at a much higher rate that the native fish.

That's right, Japan is being invaded by...

[SIZE="5"]RANDY BASS![/SIZE]

[Greji]

Sorry - my bad.

Just post a sign!