Invasive (Asian) Carp

(Update: because of the anti-Asian hate crimes during the COVID-19 pandemic, government agencies are changing "Asian carp" to "invasive carp." But those who are trying to convince Americans to eat the four invasive species consider any name with "carp" to be unacceptable. Illinois state and partner organizations are working on a new name. But they are still doing market tests. [Chicago Tribune, July 25, 2021, p25]

Nov 2024: I did a Google search but could not find a replacement name for Invasive Carp.)

Efforts to keep the invasion out of the Great Lakes

I came across a "brief facts" viewgraph, so it is time to provide an overview of the Invasive Carp issue.

In Mississippi River Since 1970s

East 20% of weight

Only one live Asian carp caught in the CAWS - below barrier.

Extensive fishing and poisoning Over last 3 months - no Asian carp

Nearest viable population is in the Dresden Pool - 41 miles from Lake

Can they establish in Lake Michigan?
Unknown

• 90% of invasions fail--feeding, spawning, temperatures
• Proven to be good at adapting

A demonstration electric shock barrier was build int 2002 at 1Volt/in, 5 hz, 4 ms. In August 2009, the upped Barrier IIA to 2 Volt/in, 15 hz, 6.6 ms.

The Army Corps of Engineers installed a sign that describes the physical barrier between the Des Plaines River and the canal in Lemont. And they have another sign about the barrier in Romeoville.

And they installed a sign on the canal marking the south end of the electric barrier.

Update:

Screenshot form Combines Harvesters Threshers posting
[They jump out of the water when a board disturbs them. They sometimes damage people in a boat]

Screenshot form
Combines Harvesters Threshers posting

They can grow to be rather large.

The video taught me that humans don't like them because it is hard to remove the bones. So why not use them for animal feed and/or fertilizer? Fishing them with nets would create jobs.

USFWS video

InvasiveSpediesInfo