Jason Lindsay.com
Asian carp has been declared the greatest threat to the Great Lakes in recent years.
Matt Porter grew up on the shores of Lake Michigan. There fishing for 40 years. Now the citizens of McHenry owns Jackpot Fishing Charters on Lake Michigan, where he and his clients fish for trout and salmon. But if these fish were to disappear so popular? If Asian carp so aggressive that breeds currently in the Illinois and Mississippi rivers were to reach Lake Michigan, it would become a nightmare. "I would probably lose my business" says Mr. Porter.
carp has virtually eliminated commercial fishing in Illinois and Mississippi rivers. The same industry in the Great Lakes worth $ 7 billion per year according to official estimates. The Asian carp is an invasive species originally imported from China in the southern United States in the 1970s to clean catch basins. When these ponds were overwhelmed, fled carp in rivers and streams back to the Great Lakes since that time. Their size alone is physically in place of native fish and makes traffic by sea and swimming dangerous. Dièe eliminate their food sources of native species, some of which are prized by recreational anglers and commercial, and makes survival impossible. 
Another variety of Asian carp, silver carp, became famous for his habit of jumping out of the water when disturbed by the passage of a motorized vessel, often striking people on the boats, and soon to be viewed in several YouTube videos. 
Ironically, if this was not another invasive species, Mr. Porter, 50 years, would not be in business. Alewife, shad, which resembles a herring, had crowded Lake Michigan in the 1960s. It was so numerous that garbage trucks would go to the beach every morning to pick up the fish that were stranded. Then, biologists have introduced a salmon in the lake for him to compete. Salmon won, and Mr. Porter earns his living by fishing for salmon and trout. The threat of Asian carp has encouraged Republican Representative Judy Biggert of Congress to join with Democratic Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois to find solutions before the nightmare come true. "We must protect the largest freshwater lakes in us." Biggert said, "This could become a real disaster. "The economic impacts of carp go beyond fishing. The hotels along the fishing ports depend on anglers for their customers. As the bait shops and equipment fishing. And the restaurants would want to spend more on supplies of fish such as trout and salmon for their table, all fish in competition with Asian carp.
We did not find Asian carp in Lake Michigan to date, and it is unclear whether they could survive. The waters of Lake Michigan are colder and deeper than all other watercourses when carp breed at this time. They prefer warmer water, in smaller streams, such as Illinois and Mississippi rivers.
But their presence in those parts of the Chicago Sanitary and Shipping Canal is the closest they have ever been in the Great Lakes. The passages connect the artificial Illinois and Mississippi rivers to Lake Michigan, paving the way for invasive species. The carp is retained by an electrified fence that is the case so far, but the density of their population in the south of the barrier continues to grow.
Mr. Biggert of Hinsdale, and Mr. Durbin, of Springfield, are fighting for find solutions to this issue for years. Together they were able to secure federal funds of $ 25 million to prevent the invasion of Asian carp in the Great Lakes. The state of Illinois has contributed even more financial support. "It's expensive," Biggert said, "and now we have to do with cuts, so we're meant to see what will happen to funding."
There are many debates about the best ways to solve this problem. A trial was initiated by each of the states bordering the Great Lakes except Illinois to force the closure of locks at Chicago that provides water, and perhaps Asian carp disappearing into Lake Michigan and the Chicago Sanitary and Shipping Canal.
The trial has been denied once by a federal judge but is still pending. Biggert argues that not only close the dams could inundates 51 Chicago suburbs, but also would have a disastrous effect on the economy of Chicago. Barge traffic that deliver basic goods such as asphalt, salt and oil to Illinois cities would cease. Local authorities who salted their streets during the winter have shown Biggert to office to complain about price increases of salt. The gasoline prices could also increase, denouncing opponents at trial.
Lawmakers added that the carp could impact the water quality, giving the example of the Illinois River, full of Asian carp but the water is very opaque. Business people, they do not care about this issue.
Terry McGhee is the interim director of the commission DuPage Water Commission, which serves more than 2 dozen municipalities in DuPage County, providing them with water drawn from Lake Michigan. "It does not worry me as a supplier of water," said McGhee. "The water treatment system of the city of Chicago can make do with." There were similar concerns with the mold mussel, another invasive species that invaded Lake Michigan, but have not proven to be a big problem for water suppliers and quality. Such as carp, zebra mussels help clean the water, making water more difficult to treat by McGhee. "I know that sounds contradictory, but when the water is not clean, it is easier to treat. "
Although many worry that the Asian carp invade Lake Michigan, others believe that the issue needs to be rethought. Kirby Marsden, president of the Illinois Commercial Fishing Association, said that the real problem is in the Illinois and Mississippi rivers, where he says the Asian carp account for 95% of the fish population in some areas. "There is great devastation that nobody's concern." by Marsden, "They did what they had to do to the lake and now it takes time and money further south to settle the problem."
While replacing the indigenous peoples of the rivers, Asian carp have also impacted the economies of cities that depend on fishing for their incomes and jobs. According to Marsden, the fish are easy to catch. He believes the best solution is to develop a market for sale and get rid of it. In
July, Governor Pat Quinn announced an agreement to catch and sell fish to China. According to him, if you can not get rid of everything so eat them.
Biggert wants to get rid of by using the latest scientific findings and technological barriers such as bubbles and rotenone, a poison that kills only carp. The Army Corps of Engineers is still studying these methods.
Other representatives of Illinois have also worked to solve the problem of Asian carp. Republican Representative Peter Roskam of Wheaton has requested federal funding for a barrier in 2010. The representative Republican Congressman Randy Hultgren of Winfield, said he supports diverse law Asian Carp Prevention and Control Act last year which declared the invasive Asian carp species, and wants to work with other members of Congress to protect the Great Lakes .
Mr. Biggert plans to meet the new delegates from Illinois in the coming weeks to make them aware of the case. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Asian carp Called The Biggest Threat to Great Lakes in Years
Matt Porter Grew up on the shore of Lake Michigan. He's Been There For 40 fishing years. Now, the McHenry resident runs Jackpot Fishing Charters on Lake Michigan, where he and his customers fish for trout and salmon. But what if those fish were gone? If the aggressive Asian carp currently multiplying in the Illinois and Mississippi rivers reach Lake Michigan, it's a possibility. “It would probably put me out of business,” Porter said.
The carp have nearly eliminated the fishing industry on the Illinois and Mississippi rivers. That same industry in the Great Lakes is worth $7 billion a year, officials estimate. Asian carp are an invasive species originally brought to the south from China in the 1970s to clean retention ponds. When their ponds flooded, the carp escaped into rivers and have been making their way up to the Great Lakes ever since. The variety know as “bighead” carp can weigh up to 100 pounds and consume 40 percent of their body weight each day. Their size physically crowds out native fish and makes boat traffic and swimming hazardous. Their diet eliminates the food sources of native species, including those pursued by sport and commercial fishermen, and makes it nearly impossibly for them to survive.
Another variety of Asian carp, the silver carp, has become infamous for leaping out of the water as motor boats pass, often hitting people on the boat, as can be seen in numerous YouTube videos.
“Honestly, it's probably the biggest threat to the Great Lakes in my lifetime,” Porter said. “It seems like the biologists for the Great Lakes always say the sky is falling over some invasive species and I don't get too worried about it. But I've seen what has happened with the carp in the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers, and they've taken over.”
Ironically, were it not for another invasive species, Porter, 50, would not be in business. Alewives, a species of herring, overcrowded Lake Michigan in the 1960s. Their presence was so great that dump trucks had to visit beaches each morning to haul the vast number of washed-up fish. Then, biologists introduced salmon to the lake to compete with the alewives. The salmon proved successful, and Porter makes his living pursuing salmon, as well as trout.
The Asian carp threat has prompted suburban Republican Congresswoman Judy Biggert to team up with Illinois' senior senator, Democrat Dick Durbin, to find solutions before it happens. “We have to protect the greatest freshwater bodies we have,” said Biggert. “This would be a real disaster.” The carp's economic impact goes beyond sport fishing. Hotels along fishing ports rely on sport fishermen for their clientele. So do bait and tackle shops. And restaurants could find it hard, or very expensive, to provide certain fish that compete with Asian carp, like trout and salmon, on their menus.
Populations of Asian carp have not been found in Lake Michigan yet, and it is unknown whether they would be able to survive there. Lake Michigan's waters are colder and deeper than any other bodies where carp now thrive. They prefer smaller, warmer waters, like the Illinois and Mississippi rivers.
But their presence in the Chicago Sanitary and Shipping Canals is the closest the species has come to entering any of the Great Lakes. The man-made canals connect the Illinois and Mississippi rivers to Lake Michigan, providing a route for the invasive species to the lake. The carp are held back by an electric barrier that has so far been successful, but their population south of the barrier continues to grow.
Biggert, of Hinsdale, and Durbin, of Springfield, have been fighting to solve this issue for years. Together they have secured more than $25 million in federal funds to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes. The state of Illinois has contributed even more funding. “It's expensive,” Biggert said. “And now we're facing spending cuts and a moratorium on earmarks, so we'll see what happens with the funding.”
There is much debate over the best way to solve the problem. A lawsuit has been filed by every Great Lakes state except Illinois to close the Chicago locks that allow flow of water, and potentially Asian carp, between Lake Michigan and the Chicago Sanitary and Shipping Canal.
The lawsuit has been struck down once by a federal judge but remains in play. Biggert argues that shutting the locks would not only cause flooding of 51 Chicago suburbs, but it also could have a disastrous effect on the Chicago economy. Barge traffic, which delivers key commodities such as asphalt, salt and oil, to Illinois cities would stop. Local leaders who salt their roads during the winter have expressed concern to Biggert's office about increased price of salt. Gas prices would stand to increase as well, opponents of the lawsuit contend.
Lawmakers also say the carp could affect water quality, citing the murky Illinois River, filled with Asian carp, as an example. Those in the business, however, are not so concerned about this prospect.
Terry McGhee is the interim director of the DuPage Water Commission, which serves more than two dozen municipalities in DuPage County with Lake Michigan water. “It does not concern me as a water provider,” McGhee said. “The city of Chicago's water treatment system can handle it.” There was similar concern when zebra mussels, another invasive species, came to Lake Michigan, but they have not proved to be a substantial problem for water supply or quality. Like the carp, they actually make water cleaner, which McGhee said makes it harder to treat. “I know that's a little contradictory, but when the water's not as clean it's easier to treat,” he said.
While many have expressed concern about Asian carp entering Lake Michigan, others think the issue needs refocusing. Kirby Marsden, president of the Illinois Commercial Fishing Association, says the real problem is in the Illinois and Mississippi rivers, where he says Asian carp make up 95 percent of the population in some places. “There's big devastation that nobody's looking at,” Marsden said. “They've done what needs to be done for the lake; now it's time to put the money downstate and fix the problem.”
As Asian carp have crowded out native species in the rivers, they have also deteriorated the economies of those towns that rely on fishing for income and jobs. According to Marsden, the fish are easy to catch. He believes the best solution is to develop a market to sell and get rid of the fish.
In July, Gov. Pat Quinn announced an agreement to catch and sell the fish to China. He says, “If you can't beat 'em, eat 'em.”
Biggert wants to get rid of the fish using the latest science and technology, such as bubble barriers and rotenone, a poison that kills only the carp. The Army Corps of Engineers is still studying these methods.
Other Illinois representatives also have worked to solve the Asian carp problem. Congressman Peter Roskam, a Republican from Wheaton, requested federal funding for a barrier in fiscal year 2010. Congressman Randy Hultgren, a Republican from Winfield, said he supports last year's Asian Carp Prevention and Control Act, which defined Asian carp as an invasive species, and looks forward to working with other congressmen to protect the Great Lakes.
Biggert plans to meet with the new Illinois delegates in the next couple of weeks to brief them on the issue."
Excerpts from Article Written by Nicole Thompson published here:
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20110213/news/799999463/
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