Invasive Species Threatens Great Lakes
Asian Carp were imported into the U.S. by fish farms, but have been traveling north towards the Great Lakes after escaping the fish farms during flooding in the 1990s. The fish can grow to nearly 4 feet and threaten the $7 billion a year fishing industry in the Great Lakes.
The Associated Press has this report on how the Asian Carp are closer than previously imagined to breaking into the Great Lakes.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials found the 22-inch immature specimen among tens of thousands of dead fish identified in a fish kill operation in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, about 40 miles from Lake Michigan, said John Rogner, assistant director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
"Asian carp are indeed knocking on the door of the Great Lakes," Rogner said "This is the closest to Lake Michigan that an actual Asian carp body has been found."
The Associated Press is also following criticisms of plans to keep invasive species out of ships' ballast waters.
A government plan to prevent foreign species carried in ship ballast tanks from invading seacoasts, the Great Lakes and inland waterways is riddled with loopholes and would take effect too slowly, environmentalists say.
Photo: Lomo Lake by kevindooley.
UPDATE. Congress is pushing for action to stop Asian Carp from getting into the Great Lakes.
The Associated Press reports:
A Senate committee on Thursday [Dec. 10) approved legislation to regulate future Asian carp imports, and a group of lawmakers met with federal officials dealing with the carp problem.
To read full article: http://bit.ly/5yLEKN
The lake fishing is great in the part but does anyone have information on any good rivers to find some good fishing,specially searching out to find good numbers of flying carp,a few other fishermen have caught some decent sizes the last few days.