Bon Appétit: Invasive Species May Come to a Dinner Plate near You

Species such as the Asian carp, European green crab, and the lionfish feast on native species and compete with them for food and habitat. Now, the New York Times reports, experts are looking into controlling these species by dishing them up for human consumption. Dining on these invasive species could also protect other species that are currently overfished or threatened. But adding invasive species to the American diet has risks. Experts warn that (1) fishermen may unintentionally capture other species while trying to catch the invasive species and (2) invasive species could become so popular a meal item that they are raised or released in areas where they did not previously exist.