(JA)First rules on removing harmful foreign species drafted

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First rules on removing harmful foreign species drafted

 

A panel of the the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Ministry has drawn up

a set of rules that would allow the extermination of some fish and animals

introduced to Japan that are endangering their indigenous counterparts,

ministry sources said Sunday.

The rules are the first on the issue to be drafted by a government body.

They also leapfrog similar plans mired down in talks within the Environment

Ministry, the sources said.

 

Adopted species targeted by the study group include the black bass and false

acacia, the sources said.

 

Based on the group's proposals, the ministry will begin to curb and remove

foreign-born species from rivers and lakes where they are especially harmful

to native species, beginning in fiscal 2001, which starts April 1.

 

It would also make more use of domestic plants rather than imported ones

when proceeding with projects along the nation's waterways, they said.

 

The study group's suggestions are based on prevention and note that it may

be too late to take significant steps to deal with the problem if

authorities decide to wait until they collect enough evidence of actual

damage.

 

The panel, chaired by Izumi Washitani, professor of ecosystems at the

University of Tokyo Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, has

asked the ministry to draft legislation on the measures it has outlined, the

sources said.

 

In addition to the black bass and false acacia, the study group also lists

more than 10 fish and plant species, including the blue gill, the giant

ragweed and tall goldenrod, as requiring active removal.

 

At present, certain local governments have ordinances controlling the entry

of some foreign species, but there is no blanket law banning their

introduction.

 

In some areas, black bass let loose by anglers have greatly reduced the

number of smaller fish because the ecosystem did not have any predator fish

in the past.

 

But the discussion on removing the strangers is split down the middle, since

the bass are a fishing favorite. As for the false acacia, in the city of

Nagano it has been confirmed that the plants have become a home for the rare

butterfly Freyer's Purple Emperor, or apatura metis.

 

Because of this, the ministry will aim to improve information disclosure on

removal plans to the general public and strive to secure sufficient

understanding and cooperation, the sources said.

 

Experts said there is a growing trend worldwide to clamp down on the entry

of foreign plant and wildlife species as part of efforts to preserve

ecosystems unique to each country.

 

The Japan Times: Mar. 5, 2001

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