Federal and State officials have come up with a $7 million plan to try to keep Asian Carp from coming into the Great Lakes.
The Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (ACRCC) are sampling the water, to determine how close the invasive species is to the Great Lakes, and to reduce the number in the Chicago area.
According to the Associated Press, the group plans to use netting, electro-fishing, an underwater camera, and other tools to determine if the fish have made their way into Michigan’s lakes.
U.S. Rep. Dave Camp (R-Midland) says “While I am encouraged the ACRCC will continue to aggressively monitor in and around the Chicago Area Waterway System for Asian carp, we must begin progress immediately on a permanent solution. As a lifelong Michigan resident, I know how important the nearly 800,000 jobs are that are supported by our Great Lakes. Without swift action to begin permanently separating the Great Lakes from the Mississippi River, our lakes are at a greater risk each passing day. I will continue working in a bipartisan, bicameral fashion to end the threat of Asian carp as quickly as possible, and will continue to push the ACRCC and the Army Corps of Engineers to take every immediate step necessary to keep these fish out of our lakes.”
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow states, ““I am very pleased that the Administration and the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee are acting to contain Asian carp. Asian carp poses a serious threat to our $7 billion fishing industry, $16 billion recreational boating industry and the entire Great Lakes ecosystem. There needs to be strong and coordinated action to stop this invasive species. However, while the measures announced today are critically important in the short-term, the only way to fully protect our Great Lakes from Asian carp is to permanently separate the Mississippi River basin from Lake Michigan. We don't have time to lose. We need a comprehensive action plan to stop Asian carp permanently and we need it now.”
What do you think about the $7 million plan? Is it worth it to save the fishing industry? Is it a waste of money, since there might not be any fish in the Great Lakes? Leave us your comments.
