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| The Great Lakes. Courtesy of the University of Michigan. |
In the latest attempt to preserve the Great Lakes at all costs, Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox has filed suit with the U.S. Supreme Court to immediately order the closing of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal’s locks leading into Lake Michigan.
The action is being taken as an aggressive attempt to keep bighead and silver carp, collectively known as Asian carp, out of the lakes. Reaching up to 90 pounds, these fish are filter-feeders.
Everyone - ranging from government officials, ecologists, recreational fishermen, and the commercial fishing industry - are worried that if these fish get into the Great Lakes that they will deplete the zooplankton which is also the main food source for mussels, fish larval, and some adult fish, like salmon and perch.
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Bighead carp. Courtesy of The Outdoor Pressroom.
The overall fear is that if these carp enter the lakes that they will compete with species that have high recreational and commercial value, thereby endangering the local fish industry. Scientists at Duke University speculate that these carp escaped from catfish farms in the southern U.S. The carp spread throughout the Mississippi River system in less that a decade, according to the university.
While everyone agrees that the Asian Carp is a threat that must be eliminated, the raging dispute is over what’s the most effective approach that won’t disrupt commerce in the region. The Illinois Attorney General’s office is currently reviewing the lawsuit and withholding comments, but others have plenty to say, both supporting and denouncing the move.
The American Waterway Operators, a national trade association for the U.S. tugboat, towboat and barge industry, expressed concerns that the if the locks close it would have a “severe impact” on Chicago businesses and the region’s economy.
“Barges transport millions of dollars worth of essential goods and commodities on waterways that would be shut down if the area’s locks are closed as proposed in the lawsuit. This includes the majority of the region’s road salt and home heating oil,” said Lynn Muench, a senior vice president of regional advocacy with American Waterway.
“Since barging is the most economical mode of freight transportation, transferring these commodities to rails or trucks would dramatically increase costs. The burden would fall on area industries and consumers,” added Ms. Muench.
Alternatively, Andy Bushsbaum, regional executive director of the National Wildlife Federation’s Great Lakes Regional Center, said “We support the state of Michigan for taking action to protect the Great Lakes from the threat of Asian carp.
“We need to restore the separation between Lake Michigan and the Chicago canal system. Otherwise, the Great Lakes are in for the worst ecological and economic disaster since the invasion of the zebra mussels.”
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