'New urgency' as Asian carp found near Lake Michigan

[TexasTowelie]

A live Asian carp has been discovered about nine miles from Lake Michigan — well beyond an electric barrier network designed to prevent the invasive fish from reaching the Great Lakes, officials said Friday.

The silver carp caught in a Chicago waterway was 28 inches long and weighed about 8 pounds, according to the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee. The fish was hooked Thursday by a commercial fisherman below the T.J. O’Brien Lock and Dam.

Silver carp are among four types of Asian carp threatening to invade the five, massive interconnected lakes, where scientists say they could compete with native species, disrupt aquatic food chains and devastate the region’s $7 billion fishing industry.

Michigan’s congressional delegation and the Snyder administration are pushing for ways to strengthen defenses against invasive fish at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam in Joliet, Illinois. The state’s congressional lawmakers expressed their dismay Friday about the development.

Read more: http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/environment/2017/06/23/asian-carp-great-lakes/103134946/

[WePurrsevere]

1. Crap! These are incredibly invasive beasts...

I live a couple miles from the St Lawrence River (border of Canada & NY/US) and they've already caught one or two of the invasive Asian carp and are now very concerned especially since fishing is a BIG attraction for up here, to the point where the town we're on the border with holds world class international fishing tournaments.

Just one example from last year...
http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/holy-carp-invasive-fish-species-found-in-st-lawrence-1.2934161

This is a serious threat to our rivers and the Great Lakes but Trump in his stupidity has removed ALL funding from his budget for dealing with things like this:
http://blog.savetheriver.org/?p=10126