US Senate OKs bill against Asian carp

Pioneer Press ^ | 11/18/2010 | Associated Press

[facedodge]

DETROIT — The U.S. Senate has approved legislation that sponsors say aims to fight the spread of Asian carp into the Great Lakes.

Author Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., says the Asian Carp Prevention and Control Act adds the bighead carp species of Asian carp to a list of injurious species. That prohibits the species from being imported or shipped in the U.S.

Levin and Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, introduced the bill in July 2009. The Senate passed it Wednesday.

A companion House bill that Rep. Judy Biggert, R-Ill., introduced is pending in the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security.

Levin says "Asian carp pose a real, clear and growing threat to the Great Lakes." He says the bill would give officials more tools to fight the fish's spread.

[facedodge]

These things are a real problem.

[facedodge]

Good article on the fish here

[Sacajaweau]

They try to block their path electrically but of course some will get through. Just kill the damn things...we need a huge stun/kill program.

[Pessimist]

I just saw them on “River Monsters” (or whatever that show is) the other evening. Amazing the way they jump so much.

It’s also interesting that they are filter feeders. Their threat to other populations is that they remove the food supply from the bottom rung of the food chain.

It’s certainly great that they try to stop them infesting the great lakes.

But with the numbers they already have, I’m afraid it’s just a matter of time.

[VanDeKoik]

You mean the Senate actually did something that fell in line with the Constitution?

Hopefully it isnt too late to control this.

[facedodge]

They locals down there hold a contest for most carp caught. Also the chumming industry has a use for them. The problem is we seem to have a mutant of the asian carp that jumps much higher and frequently than the ones in Asia. Also, there are no natural enemies yet and they multiply like crazy. People are doing all they can as far as I know.

[Puppage]

Why just Asian carp? That’s just racist

[Sacajaweau]

To date, none (0) have been found in the Great Lakes and there is only one inlet which has to be blocked so 78.5 mil would seem to be extravagant.

But in reality, whatever it takes.

You have to have a kill program someplace!!

[Eye of Unk]

Give me a fast boat and a couple boxes of small depth charges or waterproof grenades.

[Incorrigible]

Yeah. Why these alien invaders and not all the other illegal aliens?

[padre35]

They are going about it all wrong, what they should say is:

“Asian Carp is a delicacy”

Restaurants in NY/Boston/Baltimore would start serving them, and there would be incentive to harvest them in huge numbers.

[N. Theknow]

Where is the American Carp Liberties Union to protect these fish from being profiled?

[Puppage]

Why these alien invaders and not all the other illegal aliens?

Agreed

Somethings fishy here.

[Wizdum]

Boy, did I read that title wrong. I thought it said "US Senate OKs bill against Asian CRAP."

I almost jumped for joy.

[Joe 6-pack]

"It’s also interesting that they are filter feeders. Their threat to other populations is that they remove the food supply from the bottom rung of the food chain."

They're just filtering the plankton American fish refuse to filter.

Actually, there's a very direct parallel between the effects of invasive species on the environment and illegal immigrants on the economy. It's a dirty little parallel nobody wants to draw.

[Roccus]

Author Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., says the Asian Carp Prevention and Control Act adds the bighead carp species of Asian carp to a list of injurious species. That prohibits the species from being imported or shipped in the U.S.

Will this bill ban the shipment of just live Asian carp or will it include Asian carp products? There is a small, but growing industry of carp fishing for shipment, as food, to urban areas where there are large Asian populations. IIRC, they can also be used in fertilizers. If this bill includes carp products, it will outlaw one CERTAQN method of removing this threat from our waterways.

PS - I could not find an answer to this question on either govtrack or thomas.

[Roccus]

CERTAQN = CERTAIN

[reefdiver]

Put a bounty of $100.00 on ea. of them and get out of the way.

[facedodge]

I don’t know... good question though.

[Jagermonster]

They are going about it all wrong, what they should say is:

“Asian Carp is a delicacy”

Restaurants in NY/Boston/Baltimore would start serving them, and there would be incentive to harvest them in huge numbers.

I don't know...the surest way to save a species from extinction is to make 'em taste like chicken and grow 'em on farms. Perhaps there would be unintended consequences?