This morning's paper brings news that Congress is about to approve money to install a permanent electric barrier in the Illinois River in an effort to stop alien Asian carp species from migrating into the Great Lakes.
"[Congressman Vern] Ehlers said Asian carp, which already have infiltrated the Mississippi River, can grow to 150 pounds and eat 40 percent of their body weight each day. If the fish enter the Great Lakes they could devastate the ecosystem and endanger the sport and commercial fishing industries, Ehlers said."
I congratulate Congressman Ehlers for trying. But the odds of stopping these alien critters from entering the Lakes are long. The place to stop them was before they were introduced to the Mississippi River Basin. History shows once an infestation begins, the best you can hope for is that some unexpected factor (habitat limitations, other species occupying the same niche in the food web and outcompeting the alien) will prevent the alien from causing terrible damage. The carp will get to the Great Lakes, if it hasn't already; the only question is whether it will be a minor nuisance or the end of sportfishing as we know it in the open Lakes.
Posted by Dave at October 7, 2004 09:02 AM