Asian carp may have bypassed electronic barriers

Silver carp Lore feu facil dipsustio del dit, con hendre te corero commodignit eraesto et lore conulla diamconullan ullandrem dipis nisci endre feu faccummodit, conse.

Minneapolis Star-Tribune photo Silver carp Lore feu facil dipsustio del dit, con hendre te corero commodignit eraesto et lore conulla diamconullan ullandrem dipis nisci endre feu faccummodit, conse.

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By Jim Morris, Staff Writer 7:23 PM Monday, November 23, 2009

There is plenty of buzz these days about the electronic barriers and the battle to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes. And the news isn’t good.

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel has reported that research shows the fish likely have made it past the $9 million electric fish barrier on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal.

Officials reported Friday, Nov. 20, that DNA from silver and bighead carp was found in 32 water samples in two areas 10 miles or more past the electric fish barriers. That means the only thing left between the fish and Lake Michigan is a heavily used navigational lock.

Conservationists have called for that lock to be closed at least until a large amount of poison is distributed in the canal. Officials had planned to poison a portion of the canal next week — by spreading rotenone — because the main barrier has to be shut down for a few hours for routine maintenance.

Dan Thomas, president of the Great Lakes Sport Fishing Council, told the Journal-Sentinal that the plan to poison the canal is going to have to grow to cover areas above the barrier, which is about 20 miles downstream from the Lake Michigan shoreline.

“Unless we treat that canal real quick as far up as we can, then we can almost be assured that they’re on their way into the lake,” he said.

The original electronic barrier is still in use and will remain turned on, but it is too weak to stop juvenile Asian carp from moving through the electronic current and migrating upstream.

“If Asian carp become established in the Great Lakes, they could cause a catastrophic decline in native fish species and severely damage the Great Lakes sport fishing industry, valued at $7 billion,” said a statement from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

The main damage Asian carp cause is to ecosystems. They are voracious feeders and destroy food sources that native fish need to survive.

They also are a hazard to boaters. The fish can grow to more than 50 pounds and jump when approached by a boat. They have caused injuries to boaters in the Illinois, Mississippi and other river systems.

The Asian carp were imported to Arkansas in the 1960s where they were used in sewage treatment experiments. They escaped containment ponds during flooding and have moved north on the Mississippi River.

Before applying rotenone, an electro-fishing operation will be conducted to relocate as many sport fish as possible. Rotenone will kill all fish it comes into contact with. Other rough fish in that area include common carp, goldfish and gizzard shad.

For more information, visit: http://dnr.state.il.us or http://www.asiancarp.org.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2409 or jmorris@coxohio.com.

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