» Action Alert | February 11, 2010
The threat of an Asian carp invasion is looming over the Great Lakes. Keep pressure on government agencies and Congress to do everything possible to prevent their colonization in the Great Lakes.
WHY WE CARE
The Great Lakes are one of the world's freshwater treasures, but they are in imminent danger from invasion by Asian carp. Evidence of Asian carp has recently been identified in Lake Michigan and the Chicago canals that link the Mississippi River system to the Great Lakes. If these extremely aggressive fish successfully colonize they could jeopardize ongoing restoration efforts and compromise sport and commercial fisheries valued at over $7 billion annually. Asian carp are voracious feeders and can grow to exceed 100 pounds. Not only would they displace native and popular sport fish, but some of them jump when startled and could potentially injure boater and other recreationalists.
The Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee released an Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework this week outlining the federal and state agency plans and responsibilities to help avert this impending crisis. The Framework outlines coordinated and relatively aggressive action by the agencies, but given the urgency of the situation it does not go far enough. The agencies are sponsoring a public meeting in Ypsilanti, Michigan on Wednesday, February 17. We need to make a powerful showing to demonstrate the depth of concern and hold our agencies and elected officials to a high level of accountability on carp control.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Visit TU's Online Action Center to submit comments about the Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework to the agencies and your congressional representatives so they know that TU expects decisive action and strong accountability.
Sincerely,
Steve Moyer, Vice President of Government Affairs
smoyer@tu.org
Laura Hewitt, Midwest Conservation Director
lhewitt@tu.org
Kimberly Wetton, Michigan Council Chair
kwetton@plunkettcooney.com
Ed Michael, Illinois Council Chair
e1michael@cs.com
Ron Urban, New York Council Chair
ronsgonefishing@aol.com
John Lenczewski, Minnesota Council Chair
jlenczewski@comcast.net
Jim Augustyn, Ohio Council Chair
Augustyn.James@epamail.epa.gov
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