The conventional wisdom that ‘invasive species are bad news,’ supported by persistent warnings from biologists about the dangers of foreign fish is driving a newfound zeal for so-called ‘native fish restoration’ throughout the U.S.   As Brown University professor, Dov Sax recently told the New York Times: “I think the dominant paradigm in the field is still ‘when in doubt, kill them’ sort of attitude.”

The issues around invasive species and the threats they pose are more complicated and nuanced than many recognize.  In fact some invasive species may even be beneficial.

In this age when species are vanishing at a frightening pace and the risks to our biodiversity stand at an all-time high, it’s worth considering a thoughtful view shared by PhD zoologist Harley Reno in the film “Dead Wrong”.  “Nature has always been the controller- always the one to decide which organism appears, which organism survives, which organism must become part of history” he said. “Man on the other hand, thinks that he can do whatever he wants and he can make the judgement that this organism should be, or should not be, or should be replaced by something else.  Is that not arrogance?  Arrogance at its zenith.”

>Learn More ‘Invasive Species Aren’t Always Unwanted’

>View Documentary on so-called ‘Native Fish Restoration’via YouTube  ‘Dead Wrong’