Invasive Species: New Balances

As native species decline, exotic invaders thrive. Asian clams carpet river bottoms. American crayfish devastate native populations. Water primrose from South America chokes channels. These invasions often follow human patterns—species arrive through global trade, spread along transport corridors, establish in disturbed habitats.

The Canal du Midi faces particular challenges. Its warm, slow waters and connection to multiple watersheds make it an invasion highway. "We're seeing tropical species establish as waters warm," notes canal manager Jean-Pierre Blanc. "Plants from South America, fish from Asia. Climate change makes everywhere potential habitat."

Yet some communities find opportunity in invasion. Vietnamese communities along the Rhône harvest invasive Asian carp for traditional dishes. "In the Mekong, these fish are prized," explains restaurant owner Nguyen Thi Mai. "French people see pest, we see protein. Maybe solution isn't eradication but utilization."