Background and /or History of Controversy + Ethical Issues
Asian carps are native to Asia, they first came to the southern part of the U.S. in the early 1960’s. By the 80’s 75% of all species had begun to spread into local waters. They were initially imported to keep retention ponds clean. These species of fish help to control algae, weed, and parasite growth in aquatic farms. Unfortunately they were accidentally released through flooding and ended up in the Mississippi, Missouri and Illinois rivers. Ethically people do not want to kill the fish. Another issue is that in order to properly remove the fish taxes would need to be raised. These fish are a problem because they take up food and space. They can also easily take over and cause the quality of the water to decline.
1970- Asian carp were introduced in North America for fish filter farming
1994 – A flooding event in Illinois reveals just how far the Asian carp had migrated. When water levels receded, most of the dead fish left on shore were Asian carp. They outnumbered local species nine to one.
2002 – The first electronic barrier is put up in the Chicago Ship and Sanitary Canal to prevent the spread of invasive species into Lake Michigan. Two other barriers were added in 2009 and 2011 respectively.
2003-2004 – The U.S. and Canada team up to study strategies to prevent Asian carp from entering Lake Michigan. A Fisheries and Oceans Canada study shows a high risk of Asian carp spreading into the Great Lakes and the department starts participating in the U.S. Asian Carp Control Management Plan.
2005 – The province of Ontario makes it illegal to possess live invasive fish, including Asian carp, but continues to allow the import of dead carp into the province.
2008 – Canada begins a border crackdown on shipments of live Asian carp by land and air, a process that leads to several criminal charges and convictions.
2009 – Asian carp DNA is found 10 kilometres from Lake Michigan, sending an alert that the fish are much closer than authorities thought. Canada pitches in to help restrict the carp from moving into the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, which is guarded by a series of underwater electric barriers.
2010 – British Columbia bans the possession and sale of Asian carp. In Ottawa, then Fisheries Minister Gail Shea announces a $415,000 study to identify where Silver and Bighead carp may enter into the Great Lakes.
2011 – Ontario and the federal government start practicing how they will respond to the sudden introduction of Asian carp into the province. Authorities in the United States and Canada do another binational risk assessment.
2012 – The results of that risk assessment are released showing the Great Lakes provide suitable spawning habitats, food supply and temperatures for bighead carp. The most likely entry point into the Great Lakes basin is the Chicago Area Waterway System through Lake Michigan. If the carp establish themselves in Lake Michigan, the study suggests they would spread to the other lakes within 20 years. The study warns the reader with the fact that it takes only 10 female carp and 10 male carp to start a viable population.
Current Status of Controversy
The common carp has been in the US for over 100 years. The newest carp invaders are bighead carp, black carp, grass carp, and silver carp and are all together collectively referred to as Asian carp. After escaping into the Mississippi River they slowly made their way up into its tributaries. They have also been found as far north as Minnesota, even though there is no evidence that they are spawning there they still pose a threat to the aquatic ecosystem. In 2019 a University of Michigan study found that Asian carp are able to survive and thrive in much larger areas of Lake Michigan than expected by previous scientists. Previous studies suggested that low food levels in Lake Michigan would deter bighead and silver carp because typically feed on algae and other types of plankton. Bighead and silver carp are two Asian carp species which are a main concern for the Great Lakes.
Key Players List
Tax Payer
Conservationists
Local Government
Federal Government
Power-Dynamic Analysis
The key player that has the ultimate say in preventing the spread of Asian carp is the federal government. The federal government has the power to intervene or not intervene whenever it wants to, and it being the largest key player, has the resources to handle the problem if they see it as necessary. The power stays in the government as the second largest group with power is the state government, making policies that more directly affect the individual. Next come the taxpayers who do no more than help fund the projects of the governments and provide some opinions on the issue at hand. Finally comes the conservationists who can bring to light different environmental issues but make no lasting impact when it comes to an issue as large scale as Asian carp.
Solutions- Electric barriers
A series of electrical barriers of underwater electrodes were placed across the canal downstream of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. It is important that this man made waterway is blocked because it connects Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River. State and federal agencies are examining the Mississippi River and they are studying to further figure out how this issue can be prevented. However there are ways individuals can help as well. Individuals should dispose of unwanted bait in the trash, never the water. They should also merge transfer fish from one body of water to another, always drain and rinse the boat after use and report any noticed invasive species.
Citations:
Asian Carp – New York Invasive Species Information. http://nyis.info/invasive_species/asian-carp/. Accessed 10 Mar. 2020.
Blvd, Mailing Address: 111 E. Kellogg, et al. Asian Carp Overview - Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service). https://www.nps.gov/miss/learn/nature/ascarpover.htm. Accessed 10 Mar. 2020.
Government of Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Asian Carp. 9 July 2019, https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/species-especes/profiles-profils/asiancarp-carpeasiatique-eng.html.
Asian carps are native to Asia, they first came to the southern part of the U.S. in the early 1960’s. By the 80’s 75% of all species had begun to spread into local waters. They were initially imported to keep retention ponds clean. These species of fish help to control algae, weed, and parasite growth in aquatic farms. Unfortunately they were accidentally released through flooding and ended up in the Mississippi, Missouri and Illinois rivers. Ethically people do not want to kill the fish. Another issue is that in order to properly remove the fish taxes would need to be raised. These fish are a problem because they take up food and space. They can also easily take over and cause the quality of the water to decline.
1970- Asian carp were introduced in North America for fish filter farming
1994 – A flooding event in Illinois reveals just how far the Asian carp had migrated. When water levels receded, most of the dead fish left on shore were Asian carp. They outnumbered local species nine to one.
2002 – The first electronic barrier is put up in the Chicago Ship and Sanitary Canal to prevent the spread of invasive species into Lake Michigan. Two other barriers were added in 2009 and 2011 respectively.
2003-2004 – The U.S. and Canada team up to study strategies to prevent Asian carp from entering Lake Michigan. A Fisheries and Oceans Canada study shows a high risk of Asian carp spreading into the Great Lakes and the department starts participating in the U.S. Asian Carp Control Management Plan.
2005 – The province of Ontario makes it illegal to possess live invasive fish, including Asian carp, but continues to allow the import of dead carp into the province.
2008 – Canada begins a border crackdown on shipments of live Asian carp by land and air, a process that leads to several criminal charges and convictions.
2009 – Asian carp DNA is found 10 kilometres from Lake Michigan, sending an alert that the fish are much closer than authorities thought. Canada pitches in to help restrict the carp from moving into the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, which is guarded by a series of underwater electric barriers.
2010 – British Columbia bans the possession and sale of Asian carp. In Ottawa, then Fisheries Minister Gail Shea announces a $415,000 study to identify where Silver and Bighead carp may enter into the Great Lakes.
2011 – Ontario and the federal government start practicing how they will respond to the sudden introduction of Asian carp into the province. Authorities in the United States and Canada do another binational risk assessment.
2012 – The results of that risk assessment are released showing the Great Lakes provide suitable spawning habitats, food supply and temperatures for bighead carp. The most likely entry point into the Great Lakes basin is the Chicago Area Waterway System through Lake Michigan. If the carp establish themselves in Lake Michigan, the study suggests they would spread to the other lakes within 20 years. The study warns the reader with the fact that it takes only 10 female carp and 10 male carp to start a viable population.
Current Status of Controversy
The common carp has been in the US for over 100 years. The newest carp invaders are bighead carp, black carp, grass carp, and silver carp and are all together collectively referred to as Asian carp. After escaping into the Mississippi River they slowly made their way up into its tributaries. They have also been found as far north as Minnesota, even though there is no evidence that they are spawning there they still pose a threat to the aquatic ecosystem. In 2019 a University of Michigan study found that Asian carp are able to survive and thrive in much larger areas of Lake Michigan than expected by previous scientists. Previous studies suggested that low food levels in Lake Michigan would deter bighead and silver carp because typically feed on algae and other types of plankton. Bighead and silver carp are two Asian carp species which are a main concern for the Great Lakes.
Key Players List
Tax Payer
Conservationists
Local Government
Federal Government
Power-Dynamic Analysis
The key player that has the ultimate say in preventing the spread of Asian carp is the federal government. The federal government has the power to intervene or not intervene whenever it wants to, and it being the largest key player, has the resources to handle the problem if they see it as necessary. The power stays in the government as the second largest group with power is the state government, making policies that more directly affect the individual. Next come the taxpayers who do no more than help fund the projects of the governments and provide some opinions on the issue at hand. Finally comes the conservationists who can bring to light different environmental issues but make no lasting impact when it comes to an issue as large scale as Asian carp.
Solutions- Electric barriers
A series of electrical barriers of underwater electrodes were placed across the canal downstream of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. It is important that this man made waterway is blocked because it connects Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River. State and federal agencies are examining the Mississippi River and they are studying to further figure out how this issue can be prevented. However there are ways individuals can help as well. Individuals should dispose of unwanted bait in the trash, never the water. They should also merge transfer fish from one body of water to another, always drain and rinse the boat after use and report any noticed invasive species.
Citations:
Asian Carp – New York Invasive Species Information. http://nyis.info/invasive_species/asian-carp/. Accessed 10 Mar. 2020.
Blvd, Mailing Address: 111 E. Kellogg, et al. Asian Carp Overview - Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service). https://www.nps.gov/miss/learn/nature/ascarpover.htm. Accessed 10 Mar. 2020.
Government of Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Asian Carp. 9 July 2019, https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/species-especes/profiles-profils/asiancarp-carpeasiatique-eng.html.