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Despite all attempts to prevent their progressive move toward Lake Michigan, a mature Asian carp has been captured in Lake Calument...only 6 miles from Lake Michigan. This find will once again pit other Great Lakes states against Illinois as they seek to have the Chicago River locks permanently sealed to protect commercial and sport fishing industries in all of the Great Lakes from the threat posed by this voracious invasive species.
Asian Carp Breech Barriers to Lake Michigan
Seeded on Thu Jun 24, 2010 11:56 AM EDT
Article Source: Chicago Tribune/WGN- Enjoy this article? Help vote it up the 'Vine.
- Public Discussion (16)
This news will, once again, pit the State of Illinois and City of Chicago against the other Great Lakes states as they try to protect the Chicago shipping industry.
"This was so tragically predictable," said U.S. Rep. Candice Miller, R-Mich., who is among the architects of the Carp Act, a bill in Congress that would close the shipping locks. "For years, myself and so many others have raised concerns over this issue and were criticized for it or told we were overreacting. Today, our worst fears have been confirmed."
- 3 votes
#1 - Thu Jun 24, 2010 12:05 PM EDTWith a little luck, we may be able to do something about it this time. The anti-incumbent movement has politicians scrambling for their jobs. Maybe now they will start doing what we tell them to do. If not, I'm sure their successors will.
- 3 votes
You are correct becsmom. Illinois will definitely get the blame if these fish get into Lake Michigan. I am disappointed at the federal response as well. Something needs to be done now!
- 1 vote
It's just like the snakehead fiasco.
- 2 votes
#2 - Thu Jun 24, 2010 2:05 PM EDTAnd the zebra mussel! Not to mention phragmites (an invasive rush species).
The Great Lakes region is a valuable national resource that needs to be protected, not just because of its beauty, but because of the many indigenous bird, fish, and mammal species whose survival is dependent upon the ecosystem. The cumulative economic effects to the region could be as devastating as the current oil spill in the Gulf.
- 2 votes
Which means it's time to be more diligent about foreign items being brought into the US and other countries and who's doing it. Make sure the illegal food and pet trade is done with and people quit releasing foreign species into the native land.
- 3 votes
Eat Them.
It's our only chance. They were originally bred as a food species.
- 4 votes
#3 - Thu Jun 24, 2010 3:01 PM EDTTestAnxiety:
We're talking about the Chicago River. I don't even want to think about how many pollutants and heavy metals would be ingested if you ate those fish! Lake Michigan fish have high enough mercury levels that they still warn pregnant women not to eat them, and suggest that everyone should limit their weekly consumption of LM fish.
- 3 votes
Well, then we'll just have to import Alsakan Brown Bear to clean them up then, won't we?
(And I bet that gets me another "crackpot idea" award just like my edible garbage plan.)
- 3 votes
If the federal government cannot continue drug and illegal smugglers how do it expect it to control fish?
- 2 votes
#4 - Thu Jun 24, 2010 4:27 PM EDTMuch as I hate to say it, Illinois will once again come out on top.
I say this because this will go into a federal court and like it or not since Illinois is the sitting presidents home state that will tilt the scales in the favor of Illinois.
This will be a HUGE ecological disaster to the great lakes and could very well destroy the balance there.
The thing that REALLY needs to be looked at is the fact that with share these lakes(except lake michigan) with our neighbors to the north, so this is NOT just a national problem/issue, it is ALSO an international one.
- 2 votes
#6 - Fri Jun 25, 2010 10:31 AM EDTYou're right, kazutam. Thank God for the international border. The Great Lakes would have been despoiled by corporate exploitation a long time ago otherwise. The only lake without an international border is Lake Michigan. The result is another potential BP disaster...the state of Indiana approved BP dumping refining waste that includes mercury in Lake Michigan!
- 1 vote
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