MIAMI (CBS4) – Albert Einstein said “imagination is more important than knowledge.”

And it’s fun and probably healthy to open our minds to imaginary worlds of dragons and unicorns, fairies and mermaids.

But do we need the federal government to tell us mythical creatures don’t exist?

Apparently, we do, because that’s exactly what the National Ocean Service just did.

It turns out the Discovery Channel aired a documentary-style show called “Mermaids, the Body Found.”  And many people didn’t get that it was mostly fiction, thinking it was a science education show.

Like Orson Wells’ famous “War of the Worlds” radio broadcast that frightened thousands into thinking the earth was being invaded by Martians in nineteen thirty eight, so many people called the government to ask about mermaids that the government felt it had to make a public declaration.

Specifically, the Ocean Service said “no evidence of aquatic humanoids has ever been found.”

Clearly, government bureaucrats haven’t been to Florida’s WeekeeWachee Springs State Park to see the mermaid show or to Ariel’s Grotto in Disney World.

I say follow Einstein’s advice, let your imagination run wild and believe in aquatic humanoids.  Couldn’t they just have said mermaids?