An invasive species is defined as, “Any species that has been introduced to an environment where it is not native, and that has since become a nuisance through rapid spread and increase in numbers, often to the detriment of native species.

Invasive Plants

Plants may seem like a waste of space on a bass fishing site, but plants have had a huge impact on freshwater watersheds. Purple Loose-Strife is one example of a plant species that threatens water ways.

Invasive Animals

In the last 50 years, trade has resulted in the introduction of several invasive fish species to Canada and the United States. Some of these species are extremely aggressive like the snakehead, which has an aggressive streak and no predators that can reduce its numbers. Some of these species can grow very large a pose a threat to swimmers, leaving large and painful wounds.

Other fish are not nearly as aggressive but due to their breeding numbers and not having any natural predators, their numbers are increasing at an alarming rate crowding out most native species.

Economic Costs

The North American fish industry is estimated to be US$30 billion each year. Invasive species like the Carp and the Snakehead pose a real threat to the fishing industry. Recently, River monster projected that these species could dominate North America waterways if nothing is done to stop them. They went on to state that there is little that can be done to stop their expansion into the majority of North America waterways

An invasive species is defined as, “Any species that has been introduced to an environment where it is not native, and that has since become a nuisance through rapid spread and increase in numbers, often to the detriment of native species.”

Invasive species are often introduced for various reasons. The three most common reasons include: 1) contamination by mistake. This often involves the release of ship ballasts from foreign waters; 2) As a means to combat a local threat without complete consideration of the consequences; and 3) Intentionally for business or personal reasons.