News stories tagged with "asian-carp"

(07/01/10) Environmental groups are blasting the US Corps of Engineers and urging President Obama to do far more to stop the spread of an invasive fish into the Great Lakes.

Scientists say the aggressive Asian carp -which can weigh up to 100 pounds--could wipe out natural fish stocks in Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.

As Brian Mann reports, some lawmakers want new, permanent barriers that would prevent the fish from spreading. more

(06/28/10) Two New York lawmakers are demanding that U.S. officials shut two Chicago shipping locks to prevent an invasive fish from getting into the Great Lakes. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Congresswoman Louise Slaughter said Friday they are concerned about the recent discovery of a 20-pound Asian carp in Chicago's Lake Calumet, six miles from Lake Michigan. David Sommerstein has more. more

(02/10/10) The invasive Asian carp and its potentially devastating impact on the Great Lakes were the focus of a Congressional hearing in Washington yesterday.

The agressive fish has already infested the Mississippi River basin, and traces of its genetic material have been found in Lake Michigan for the first time.

Illinois temporarily closed navigational locks near Chicago to keep Asian Carp out of the Great Lakes. Representatives of the states surrounding the lakes are pressing the federal government to do more, faster. Martha Foley has more.

(12/08/09) Earlier this month, DNA of the Asian carp was discovered downstream of a multi-million dollar electric barrier designed to repel the giant fish from the Great Lakes. The barrier was built in a canal in Chicago that connects the Mississippi River with Lake Michigan. Asian carp have been swimming up the Mississippi for years. The DNA discovery set in motion a frantic response from state and federal agencies. The canal was poisoned with rotenone last Friday when the barrier had to be turned off for maintenance. Thousands of fish were killed, but only one asian carp was among them. The governor of Michigan has vowed legal action to have shipping locks closed to seal off the canal. Jennifer Nalbone is with the regional environmental group, Great Lakes United. She told David Sommerstein the Asian carp will crowd out native fish and devastate the recreational fishing industry, and damage the entire ecosystem.