Monday, February 8, 2010

Obama Administration announces long- and short-term fight to keep Asian carp from Great Lakes

Invasive fish thrive on shallower water like Lake Erie

Asian carp

The Obama Administration is pledging more than 78 million dollars to fight the spread of Asian carp from the Mississippi River into the Great Lakes.

Monday's announcement followed a meeting by EPA and other administration officials with Great Lakes governors, who fear the massive fish is about to leap through Chicago shipping channels into the Great Lakes. The fish can devour more than half its weight and has no predators here. The governors are concerned it will destroy the $7 billion Great Lakes fishing industry.

Nearly a billion of that is in Lake Erie alone, and Charlie Wooley of the National Fish and Wildlife Service says the carp already have been found in the shallower water of Lake Erie.

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To be concerned that the fish already have established in the Great Lakes waters, Wooley says biologists would have to see multiple sizes of fish, which would indicate they’re breeding.

The federal money will come from the Great Lakes Restoration funds and efforts will include netting, electroshocking, chemicals and DNA verification.

Listener Comments:

If these fish have already made it to Lake Erie what makes you think a "greenback" is going to stop them now? What I think we have here is a case of locking the barndoor after the cows have escaped.

The real point is: Have they really escaped?
And is there still a possibility of containment and a way to market these fish products?

Perhaps the sport fisherman can weigh in on this matter. Bounty tournaments might be an answer.

Posted by: Phillip Lincenberg (Glenwood, Il) on February 8, 2010 10:39PM

Show me some evidence that these Asian Carp are able to get established in any lake with the limited food supply of the Great Lakes. They will eat the Larvae of the Zebra Mussel, the last reported Biological Scurge that improved the fishing on the Great Lakes.

This is a bountiful food source to be harvested the feet the starving of the world. But, the Catfish Industry has blocked this fish from being classified as a Title III food source. It is better quality than catfish as these are Vegetarians and a million pounds is harvested each month. The Illiois IDNR cotributed to their productivity by prohibiting commercial fishing for 60 miles down stream of the elctric gates. They have agreed to lift that restriction and allow upto 100 million tons to be harvested for organic fertilizer and processing in 8 ounce food packets with a shelf life of up to 6 months. By the way the electric gates are not effective on the 50 pound and above Asian Carp. You can read my report at the State of Illinois Senate Environmental Hearing held on Jan 21st. My report was submitted in writing. Regard, Mother Nature's Plumber. Also, Phil Kadner reviewed my issues in the SouthTown News Paper on Jan. 29th. 2010

Posted by: Drainage Dr. Dieringer, Ed.D. (Thorn Creek Watershed, IL) on February 8, 2010 10:23PM

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