I see Michigan has filed suit to close the canal between the lake and the Mississippi to prevent the spread of Asian Carp into the Great Lakes.
The end of the Great Loop?
- Thread starter Roger Long
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Closure of the canal may be the only way to prevent the Asian Carp from getting into the Great Lakes, and I would bet that even that wouldn't prevent an additional migration into the lakes. Its unfortunate, but if its necessary it should be done. As a sailor interested in "looping" at some point, its disappointing. As a sport fisherman, I'm all for it! Maybe Michigan ought to sue every state that allowed the importation of the carp in the first place, and every fish farm that ever had them!
We can already thank the St. Lawrence Seaway for the intrusion of the Sea Lamprey and the Alewife; and in the ballast water of the salties that come into the lakes: the brown goby and Zebra mussels. Threre's also some really wierd non-native algae floating around out there too. What next?
We can already thank the St. Lawrence Seaway for the intrusion of the Sea Lamprey and the Alewife; and in the ballast water of the salties that come into the lakes: the brown goby and Zebra mussels. Threre's also some really wierd non-native algae floating around out there too. What next?
We get "Loopers" through our marina every summer. I would hope they could find an alternate route and still spend their boater bucks in our area.
I would hate to see the Carp get loose in the Great Lakes and the electric fence does not seem to be successful so far, so if it means closing the canal, then that's what needs to be done.
I would hate to see the Carp get loose in the Great Lakes and the electric fence does not seem to be successful so far, so if it means closing the canal, then that's what needs to be done.
I agree close the canal - but what about the responsbility of those who created this problem?
Shouldn't the state that allowed importation and raising this invasive species be held liable for the damages to day to fisheries, as well as the costs to control/ hopefully eradicate this species of carp?
I hope they can find a way to eliminate it from our waters - but suspect the carp farms in Louisiana are still in production and no improvements have been made to keep these fish out of our ecosystem.
Shouldn't the state that allowed importation and raising this invasive species be held liable for the damages to day to fisheries, as well as the costs to control/ hopefully eradicate this species of carp?
I hope they can find a way to eliminate it from our waters - but suspect the carp farms in Louisiana are still in production and no improvements have been made to keep these fish out of our ecosystem.
That's a good question.
It would be interesting to find out how, and who, made the decision. If it would have been made by a doctor or an engineer they would have been sued and probably have their license revoked.
I hate to say this being the twisted negative person I am
but something else to consider for the future are the snake heads. They're confirmed in the Potamic, the mississippi & I heard an unconfirmed rumor they've been caught in NJ. It seems they are moving northward.....
but something else to consider for the future are the snake heads. They're confirmed in the Potamic, the mississippi & I heard an unconfirmed rumor they've been caught in NJ. It seems they are moving northward.....
If something CAN be done it should be done NOW. Look at all the Pythons and cobras and other dangerous animals in Florida. All because people let there "pets" escape or release then because they don't want them anymore. Why we are still able to buy some of these animals is foolish.
Sailing the great loop someday would be great, but not at the expense of our our natural habitats.
Brian
Sailing the great loop someday would be great, but not at the expense of our our natural habitats.
Brian
Here is some of the most current information as to what is happening
http://www.waterwayguide.com/newsupdate.php?area=1#685
Chuck
http://www.waterwayguide.com/newsupdate.php?area=1#685
Chuck
Hrm.
In the past when we were seeking to eliminate a species for one reason or another the Government placed a bounty on the species. I know it won't totally eliminate it, but what if the Government paid a descent bounty per fish for Asian Carp.
History has shown that when there is money to be made off of things like that it directly causes a decline in the population. Look at what we did to the buffalo a long time ago. We almost made them extinct.
Just a thought on this one.
In the past when we were seeking to eliminate a species for one reason or another the Government placed a bounty on the species. I know it won't totally eliminate it, but what if the Government paid a descent bounty per fish for Asian Carp.
History has shown that when there is money to be made off of things like that it directly causes a decline in the population. Look at what we did to the buffalo a long time ago. We almost made them extinct.
Just a thought on this one.
The problem is that they need to regulate the capture and killing of the Asian Carp so that no native species are injured in the process.
Trust me, if a buck can be made off it in these times people will do it.
Trust me, if a buck can be made off it in these times people will do it.
Interesting video in two parts!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yS7zkTnQVaM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ChwJiKKBdA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yS7zkTnQVaM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ChwJiKKBdA
The USA has always been insane when it comes to exotic speices. I can't catch a crow and make it a pet but I can import a bird from anywhere. The same with snakes. If I catch a Corn Snake for a pet I am breaking the law. But it is perfectly legal to import Burmese Pythons. INSANE. The same with fish. Why on earth was the snakehead fish ever allowed in this country????? Insanity!!!!!!!
It wasn't allowed. They were sold illegally/blackmarket thru fish markets to the asian population. Someone decided to transplant some live specimans.....
This may have an affect on those doing the Loop this year
Here is the current consideration
http://www.waterwayguide.com/newsupdate.php?area=1#693
Chuck
Here is the current consideration
http://www.waterwayguide.com/newsupdate.php?area=1#693
Chuck
I believe that the carp were never viewed as "exotic" or brought in by the "Asian population". The American catfish farming industry imported them in the 1970's as a cheap way to clean their catfish ponds of algae. The ponds flooded in the early 1990's letting the carp escape to the rivers.
The catfish industry is large and politically quite powerful in several southern states. About 10 years ago Vietnam tried to export catfish to the US. The industry got the US Commerce department to rule that the Vietnamese catfish couldn't be sold as "catfish" (different specie) and slapped a tariff on them too.
Too bad they can't afford the cleanup costs from their nifty carp idea.
Carl
The catfish industry is large and politically quite powerful in several southern states. About 10 years ago Vietnam tried to export catfish to the US. The industry got the US Commerce department to rule that the Vietnamese catfish couldn't be sold as "catfish" (different specie) and slapped a tariff on them too.
Too bad they can't afford the cleanup costs from their nifty carp idea.
Carl
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