"Chicago river poisoned to block feared Asian carp"

[mariomike]

"CHICAGO (Reuters) - Authorities scooped up poisoned fish floating to the surface of a Chicago-area waterway on Thursday in an operation designed to keep invasive Asian carp out of the Great Lakes and prevent an ecological disaster.
So far, none of the prolific two species of Asian carp, the Bighead carp and the Silver carp, have turned up in the huge fish kill that began overnight along 6 miles of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal southwest of the city.":
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/091203/us/usreport_us_greatlakes_carp

 

[old medic]

Here is an interesting photo and caption;
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/12/state-to-wage-chemical-war-on-asian-carp-tonight.html

Makes sense I guess. I doubt the US will do the right thing and close the canal and fix the chicago river,
so I expect the carp are set to destroy the great lakes.

Fisheries Canada workers scoop up dead fish that float to the surface of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal after environmental officials dumped in a toxin in an effort to stop the spread of voracious Asian carp into Lake Michigan. (William DeShazer/Tribune)

 

[old medic]

Ah...  Story finally picked up by a Canadian outlet two days later.


Canadians fight fish that threatens Great Lakes

Mary Gazze, CTV.ca News Staff
Date: Saturday Dec. 5, 2009 7:47 AM ET
link : http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091204/asian_carp_091205/20091205?hub=TopStoriesV2

Canadian biologists are in the United States trying to prevent a large, hungry, and invasive fish from making its way into the Great Lakes, where it could threaten native species and cost the fishing industry hundreds of millions of dollars.

Biologists from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) are working with a team of Illinois environmental officials trying to stop the spread of the Asian carp, which have been found in a canal dangerously close to Lake Michigan, according to DNA testing.

"We've had long days. Some of our shifts worked to one in the morning," said Vecky Cudmore, senior science advisor for aquatic and invasive species for DFO.

She is one of 18 Canadians in the state to help the U.S. stop the fish from spreading uncontrollably into Lake Michigan and the Great Lakes system.  ...................

Continues at link.

 

[mariomike]

"There are nine species of fish classified as "invasive" by the ministry, including bighead, grass, silver and black carp – collectively known as Asian carp":
Supermarket fined $3,500 for selling a live bighead carp that could endanger native fish:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/751564--invasion-of-the-bighead-carp-has-ontario-scared

 

[old medic]

Invasive Asian carp found close to Great Lakes
Reuters  June 24, 2010
http://news.nationalpost.com/2010/06/24/invasive-asian-carp-found-close-to-great-lakes/#more-11903

CHICAGO — A 9-kilogram Asian carp was fished out of a waterway close to the Great Lakes and beyond twin electric barriers designed to keep them out, authorities said on Wednesday.

It was the first time the voracious invader has been found beyond the electric barriers in the waterways that connect Lake Michigan, one of the five Great Lakes, with the Mississippi River basin, where the carp have proliferated.

“It’s important evidence, and the more information we know about where the carp are, the better … that’s the reason we’re intensifying the effort” to find any Asian carp beyond the barriers, said Chris McCloud, a spokesman for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

The live Bighead carp was fished out on Tuesday by a fisherman contracted by the government in Lake Calumet, 10 kilometres from Lake Michigan. It could have been dumped there or could have found its way past the electric barriers meant to block all fish species, Mr. McCloud said.

Michigan and several other U.S. states bordering the Great Lakes have filed suit demanding a separation of the two basins, fearing Asian carp will ruin the Great Lakes’ $7-billion fishery. Several environmental groups support the separation of the basins, which were connected by man-made waterways a century ago.

Commercial interests including tour boat operators, barge companies, and the recreational boating industry oppose the closing of the connecting waterways.

Federal and local authorities have embarked on a long-term project to build more barriers, search for invasive carp, and use fish poisons and other measures to kill the carp before they become established.