Scientists fear leaping carp to invade US Great Lakes

Reuters on Yahoo ^ | 2/20/06 | Andrew Stern

[NormsRevenge]

An undated handout image of a bigheaded carp. Fish that leap into passing boats may be a fisherman's fantasy, but scientists fear that hyperactive Asian carp will reach the U.S. Great Lakes, devour the base of the food chain, and spoil drinking water for 40 million people. REUTERS/Handout

[Texas_Jarhead]

offer a bounty on em

[lesser_satan]

ping

[dead]

scientists fear that hyperactive Asian carp will reach the U.S. Great Lakes, devour the base of the food chain and spoil drinking water for 40 million people.

Surely it is this crisis that will destroy us all.

I had road rage in the pool, and my brother had El Nino. I almost picked shark attacks.

Any losers out there still holding on to their Y2K tickets?

[ARCADIA]

More illegal immigrants...fish this time....

[proud_yank]

ping - Thought this might interest you

[proud_yank]

Hopefully they'll vote dem.

[JohnCliftn]

Article is a good example of writing by a reporter who is illiterate in science and engineering. It goes straight into catastrophic hysteria.

I doubt that the original handout was so emotionally charge. Such writing avoids a clear statement of the problem, so you have to accept on faith the proposed solution, which is give lots of money to pseudo-scientists claiming to be ecologists.

(In my lifetime the once exciting and exacting study of ecological systems has degenerated to pseudo-science.)

[annelizly]

This isn't funny. Kids are cutting the heck out of their feet(needing stitches) on our beaches(which used to be just sand) here in michigan on those damned zebra mussles. These A-holes are going to ruin our water. They shouldn't let ANYONE bring foreign crap into our country if they can't keep control of it!

[Just A Nobody]

scientists fear
devour ... and spoil
"It is a crisis,"
global environmental crises
could set off an ecological collapse
enhancing algae growth, some of which emit toxins that can cause itchiness, illness and even death.
bar ocean vessels from the lakes

OMG - we are all gonna die!

The dire consequences from the carp's arrival may serve another purpose: publicizing the global issue of invasive species that cost hundreds of billions of dollars to fight.

Public outrage that followed the Cuyahoga River catching fire in Cleveland in 1969 spurred passage of the U.S. Clean Water Act.

Oh, never mind....it is just more environazi fear mongering.

[Westlander]

Cheney just has to go on a week long trip with his 28.

[Westlander]

What does the Hildabest's picture have to do with the story?

[TheCrusader]

"The (Asian) leaping fish are silver carp that jump haphazardly when alarmed by passing boats and have injured boaters,"

Sheesh, even their fish can't drive.

[Jeff Chandler]

Perhaps Global Warming will be the death of these fish?!

[Kakaze]

" offer a bounty on em "

Just start a rumor that the innards of this fish are an aphrodesiac and you wont be able to find one of these critters in a couple of months!

[carumba]

Fish that leap into passing boats may be a fisherman's fantasy

Hey wait a minute, we could start a new fishing contest. No rod and reel just a boat shaped like a catchers mitt.

[mmercier]

I saw a program about these carp yesterday. These fish appear unnatural when you see literally thousands of them flying out of the water every time a boat passes.

They are the definition of an invasive species, and will likely not be stoppable by man.

[MetalHeadConservative35]

those fish are fun to after, good fight

[dasboot]

The water clears of algae because the fish eat it, which causes ....algae bloom? Huh?

Are they edible?

Feed the homeless. Give 'em a boat. No need to teach 'em to fish. No excuses.

"Why should we have to eat CARP!"

"It's DEGRADING!"

"Closure!"

[knarf]

Norm ... you just know how to start a day ...
This article is polluted with gags ... too many to comment on ... but these seemed to go together ... to me ...

.

"But scientists believe the carp, which escaped lagoons in Arkansas during late 1990s flooding, could set off an ecological collapse in the lakes, ruining the primarily recreational $5 billion fishery and posing a threat to water quality for millions of people.

and

"The leaping fish are silver carp that jump haphazardly when alarmed by passing boats and have injured boaters, some of whom have taken up garbage can lids as shields."

.

Since the late '90's, those carp from Arkansas have been jumping around and threatening and violating the somewhat still, calm waters of America.
And the sheilds ?

Our own Viking Kitties come to mind.