A river in Miyazaki, Japan is witnessing an explosive population increase of a certain kind of carnivorous alien fish, threatening the existing ecosystem and indigenous species. The sudden rise in the invasive species’ population has perturbed the local environmental balance significantly. The authorities are grappling to understand the cause behind this unparalleled growth and are endeavoring to limit its potentially damaging impact.

In Japan, environmental preservation and the functioning of ecosystems are ingrained social values. Any form of disturbance such as this has major ripple effects in societal attitudes, prompting quick actions from authorities. As such, the invasion of foreign species causing disturbance to the local ecosystem is seen as a significant concern.

In the United States or European Union, similar issues would typically mobilise local and national environmental agencies. Invasions of alien species can sometimes lead to legal restrictions on trade of these creatures, or a boost in research funding into biodiversity and invasive species control, just as seen in the US with the invasive Burmese python in Florida.