Philippine fishermen battling with odd alien fish
The suckermouth catfish from South America is just one of a growing number of foreign species that are spreading in local waterways and forests, threatening to edge out the country's indigenous plants and animals; Kazinform refers to China Daily.
Locally known as "janitor fish", the catfish were originally introduced for aquariums but careless handling and weak controls allowed them to escape into the wild - just like scores of other animals and plants.
Foreign species may look like cute turtles or lovely flowers, but government wildlife experts warn that they are displacing native plants and animals while causing massive harm to the farming and fishing industries.
"The ecological threat of invasive species is so great, they could transform the landscape, wipe out native species and destroy the diversity of the ecosystem," said government wildlife specialist Anson Tagtag.
The suckermouth catfish has multiplied faster than local species while competing for food and building nests in mud banks, dirtying the waters.
Filipinos generally find janitor fish unpalatable so those that are caught by fishermen go to waste.
In a belated response to the threat posed by all foreign species, the government has started a three-year program to find out exactly what is out there and devise strategies to contain or eradicate the problems.
The program is not expected to work miracles, but it is a promising start after decades of foreign plants and animals being brought into the country without enough safeguards.
Tagtag, who is one of the leaders of the program, said there were about 100 alien plant and animal species known to have become a problem in the Philippines.
See www.chinadaily.com.cn for full story
