Great Lakes States Battle Fish Farms

[Eugene]

Great Lakes States Battle Fish Farms


Monday October 3, 2005 9:01 AM

By FREDERIC J. FROMMER

Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - A North-South fish fight is erupting in Congress over
legislation to ban imports of Asian carp, a critter that southern fish
farmers depend on to control parasites, but which officials of Great
Lakes states fear will wreak havoc on the lakes' ecosystems.

Fish farmers in states including Arkansas and Mississippi imported the
voracious species from China. It eats snails, and that helps the fish
farmers control parasites.

<snip>

Three years ago, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed banning
the importation of black carp, a species of Asian carp that Southern
fish farmers use, but the agency has not acted on its proposal.

<snip>

Shawn Finely, a Fish and Wildlife legislative specialist, said the
agency has to take into account the aquaculture industry in
finalizing the rule.

"We are taking our time," she said. "We feel we need to look at the
environmental and economic impacts."

<snip>

Full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5317664,00.html

[ClintonTyree]

1. Invasive species are already killing the Great Lakes.........

Zebra Mussels,the spiny water flea, the fish-hook flea, the spotted Goby, the Eurasian Ruffe, Milfoil......... geez, the list goes on and on. Ocean going vessels dump their ballast into the Great Lakes before taking on their cargo and it's full of non-native species. The Great Lakes are in serious trouble already and these Carp are trying to invade as well. They installed an "electric dam" to keep them out, but they will get past it, if they haven't already. hen you can kiss the Great Lakes fishery goodbye.
It's happening and will continue to happen as long as Republicans continue their "relaxation" of environmental laws. Relaxation meaning, striking them from the books altogether. Bastards! :grr:

[amandabeech]

2. Lake Michigan looks beautiful from the beach,

but under the water it is a terrible mess.

The St. Lawrence Seaway isn't looking like such a great deal anymore. Most oceangoing ships are too large for its locks, and the few that do enter do much more harm than good.

[Viking12]

3. ...and now WI Repugs want to spread exotics to inland lakes

by re-opening the Fox River locks to provide navigation from Green Bay to Lake Winnebago. A plan for rich folk to cruise the river in their mini-yachts will carry the exotics upstream and eventually through the entire state.

[amandabeech]

4. Is there any exercise in stupidity that the pugs won't try?

If they let those damned gobies in it'll ruin their fishing. Just ask the folks who used to like fishing in Muskegon, MI.

The only decent thing to do with gobies is to throw them into a TDP plant, like the butterball turkey facility in MO.