Conservation

Asian Carp Control Takes Shape on the Great Lakes

Over the past four months, an unprecedented level of attention has been directed at preventing the entry of the Asian carp into the Great Lakes from the Mississippi River basin. In the metropolitan Chicago area, century-old canals and locks connect the two water systems in a way that Mother Nature never intended.

Thanks to intense public pressure from Great Lakes stakeholders, the federal government has provided the funding and authority to federal agencies to prevent the carp’s entry into Lake Michigan. A comprehensive action plan, the Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework, was established. The Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (Army Corps of Engineers; US EPA; US Fish & Wildlife Service; Coast Guard; Illinois DNR) will oversee the Implementation of its short-term and long-term control measures. The website, www.asiancarp.org, provides detailed information about the control plan and current news.

Experts have warned for years of the devastating impact the colonization of the Asian carp would have on the Great Lakes ecology. The epicenter of this threat is the 7 Billion Dollar sportfishing industry on the Great Lakes. All fish species and aquatic habitats would be harmed including coldwater habitat, trout and salmon.

Despite this threat and the economic harm it would have in all the Great Lakes, local economic interests in the Chicago area (tour boat/commercial barge operators; sewer/water authorities) have resisted the proposed control measures. Controversy surrounds just how close the carp is to escaping into Lake Michigan. eDNA sampling of the Chicago canals has revealed evidence of the carp above the electrical barriers and at the edge of Lake Michigan, yet no actual fish have been found despite intense efforts to catch them.

Michigan stakeholders (Attorney General Cox; Governor Granholm; Michigan’s U.S. Congressional delegation; MDNRE) have played a significant role in pressing for strong control measures and insisting on a ‘zero tolerance’ goal.

Metro West Steelheaders Club has been a big part of the effort as well. Letter-writing campaigns at Club meetings, the Ultimate Fishing Show, and together with MUCC at Outdoorama have generated over 5,000 letters delivered to U. S. Congress and President Obama demanding strong action. Attorney General Cox spoke at the Club meeting in January about legal action taken to force closure of the Chicago locks. Club members attended the public meeting held by federal officials in Ypsilanti last month, and made public comments. The Michigan Steelhead and Salmon Fisherman’s Association has picked up Metro West’s letter-writing campaign and is providing it to other chapters for their use.

To keep abreast of these issues as they pertain to protecting the Great Lakes fisheries that our sport depends on, visit www.asiancarp.org for news releases and other information from the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee. Send in your comments/questions to the federal email box: carpcomments@gmail.com.

I will do my best to keep you informed and to let you know how you can help insist on the strongest effort possible to keep these fish out of the Great Lakes.

Dan Keifer
MWS Conservation Committee Chair

dckeifer@comcast.net