(Litchfield Independent Review)
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar co-sponsored legislation authored by Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) and George Voinovich (R-OH) to prevent the spread of Asian Carp to the Great Lakes. This invasive species has created problems throughout the lower Mississippi and Missouri Rivers and is now threatening to enter the Great Lakes through the Chicago Canal system. The species has been spotted in Minnesota and throughout the Upper Mississippi river. Asian Carp are known for disrupting local ecosystems due to their large size, destructive eating habits, and rapid rate of reproduction. Their introduction into Great Lakes would pose a significant risk to the ecosystem.
“Preserving the health of the Great Lakes is important to every Minnesotan, especially boaters and anglers,” said Klobuchar. “Keeping the Asian Carp out of our rivers and lakes is important to protecting the natural balance of our waters.”
This bill will add Asian Carp to the list of injurious species that are prohibited from being shipped or imported into the United States.
Asian Carp can weigh up to 100 pounds, and can grow to a length of more than four feet. They are well-suited to the climate of the Great Lakes region, which is similar to their native Asian habitats. To prevent the carp from entering the Great Lakes the Environmental Protection Agency, Army Corps of Engineers, Fish and Wildlife Service, State of Illinois, and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission are working together to install a permanent electric barrier between the fish and Lake Michigan.