A live Asian carp has been discovered in a Chicago waterway about nine miles from Lake Michigan — well beyond an electric barrier network designed to prevent the invasive fish that have infested the Mississippi River system from reaching the Great Lakes, officials said Friday.
The silver carp was 28 inches long and weighed about 8 pounds, officials with the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee told The Associated Press. It was caught by a commercial fisherman below the T.J. O’Brien Lock and Dam.
* From Henry Henderson, Director of the Natural Resources Defense Council’s Midwest Program…
“Asian carp are like cockroaches, when you see one, you know it’s accompanied by many more you don’t see. This is a nightmare scenario for anyone concerned about the health of the Great Lakes and its economy.”
“We have had fifteen years to deal with this slow motion tragedy. Perhaps this finding, along with the discovery of another species of Asian carp in the Illinois River, will convey the urgency of threat to the Great Lakes.
The Trump Administration cannot delay for one minute more the release of a taxpayer funded study detailing how to deter the carp invasion. Illinois and Indiana, which have been blamed for obstructing action to address the issue, must join Great Lakes states to push for faster, stronger and more aggressive action. Giant jumping fish at Oak Street Beach will not help Illinois’ tourism economy.”
Just this week, members of Congress introduced legislation to force the Trump administration to release a plan outlining technologies to be employed at a key choke point in the Asian carps’ path towards Lake Michigan and the entire Great Lakes ecosystem. That plan would likely take decades to deploy, while Great Lakes conservation groups have called for faster solutions that would address movement of invasive species from both the Great Lakes and Mississippi River system through Chicago’s waterways.
There’s no easy answer. Separating Lake Michigan from the Mississippi River system is the only true solution. Lots of opposition to that, including from Pence when he was Gov of Indiana. And it requires big bucks, definitely federal funding, so that won’t happen during Trump/Pence administration. At this point anything that’s done might be too little, too late.
I thought the invasive zebra mussels cleaned up all of the algae in Lake Michigan. If silver carp eat algae, and if the zebra mussels successfully reduced the supply (so much so that bass have returned to Chicago’s lake front), then maybe the carp will prefer to stay in the rivers?
The Asian carp is neither the first nor the last invasive species to threaten the Great Lakes. Remember the round goby, the sea lamprey, alewives? Salmon and trout are also not native to the Great Lakes, but we introduced them intentionally.
It would be very bad if these carp get established in the Great Lakes, but let’s not panic and let’s not pretend this is the only threat out there.
Honeybear - they are actually delicious. We are river rats and bowfish for them, and also eat what we shoot. It’s a little tedious to fillet them so they are boneless, but it’s a very clean flaky tasty white meat. When our bowfishing group has done blind taste tests at events, people consistently pick the silver carp over crappie, bluegill and walleye. I also can it, which softens the bones and it’s better than canned salmon or tuna.
Additionally - while it seems everyone wants to see them jump and carry on - we work really hard at avoiding that - they tear up stuff on the boat, will black you eye, break you nose and in general create havoc. Every time a visitor asks us to “make them jump” the answer is resounding NO!
Imo theyre already in the great lakes if one was past the barrier and less than 10 miles away. The only question now is how fast the growth of the population will be. Like an earlier commenter said, the best hope may be that there are other species in the great lakes that eat algae too.
1. US Army Corps of Engineers has a compete feasibility report on solutions to prevent Asian carp from reaching the Great Lakes. This release is being blocked by Trump/Pence White House.
2. As Governor, Pence was resistant to solutions on carp, and this will be on the record.
3. Although shipping has diminished for and relocated elsewhere, one of the more interesting businesses on the canal is the Koch Industries, with their storage of petroleum coke.
flylifemagazine.com/asian-carp-has-cometh-by-the-ton/ - IDNR, through hired commercial fisherman, pull over 70,000lbs of Asian Carp from Illinois River in 3 weeks
The Corps solution is to basically cut the Illinois River off from Lake Michigan. How much economic damage will that cause the state?
- Veil of Ignorance - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 4:21 pm:
Lake Michigan is likely the single most important asset that Illinois has and we’re not doing enough to protect it on multiple fronts. Our next Governor and Chicago Mayor need to prioritize this.
Seems like a good time to get in a plug for the annual Redneck Fishing Tournament in Bath. Help get a few thousand of these invasive critters out of the Illinois River and support charities that help veterans. And who doesn’t want to spend an afternoon on the river knee-deep in Asian carp?
Betty could could use some sponsors this year. Even CapitolFax is a past sponsor.
- Anon221 - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 12:39 pm:
For all potential fish bounty hunters out there…
http://www.asiancarp.us/news/BlackCarpBounty.htm
- Peoria Citizen - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 12:46 pm:
Well crap.
- DuPage Saint - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 12:46 pm:
Madigan’s fault. Before he became speaker no carp
- Honeybear - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 12:47 pm:
I heard it’s tasty. Can someone confirm that is true? Didn’t LA rename it Silverfin to sell it? Just interested
- TopHatMonocle - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 12:49 pm:
There’s no easy answer. Separating Lake Michigan from the Mississippi River system is the only true solution. Lots of opposition to that, including from Pence when he was Gov of Indiana. And it requires big bucks, definitely federal funding, so that won’t happen during Trump/Pence administration. At this point anything that’s done might be too little, too late.
- Honeybear - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 12:49 pm:
Sorry. I am actually upset that an ecosystem is in grave danger.
- Amalia - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 12:56 pm:
massive fishing needed. free food?!? Cannot let this into the lake.
- btowntruthfromforgottonia - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 1:02 pm:
Honeybear,
Asian Carp does actually have a decent taste to it.
- Cornerfield - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 1:02 pm:
For lots of laughs on a Friday Google Bath Illinois redneck fishing tournament.
- 47th Ward - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 1:02 pm:
I thought the invasive zebra mussels cleaned up all of the algae in Lake Michigan. If silver carp eat algae, and if the zebra mussels successfully reduced the supply (so much so that bass have returned to Chicago’s lake front), then maybe the carp will prefer to stay in the rivers?
The Asian carp is neither the first nor the last invasive species to threaten the Great Lakes. Remember the round goby, the sea lamprey, alewives? Salmon and trout are also not native to the Great Lakes, but we introduced them intentionally.
It would be very bad if these carp get established in the Great Lakes, but let’s not panic and let’s not pretend this is the only threat out there.
- Rabid - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 1:08 pm:
Instead of dragging an inter tube behind your boat, drag a raft pitchforks and pay for your gas
- Downstate - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 1:14 pm:
I thought these fish could only live in “moving water”. Very concerned that they can survive in lakes.
- Down South - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 1:29 pm:
Honeybear - they are actually delicious. We are river rats and bowfish for them, and also eat what we shoot. It’s a little tedious to fillet them so they are boneless, but it’s a very clean flaky tasty white meat. When our bowfishing group has done blind taste tests at events, people consistently pick the silver carp over crappie, bluegill and walleye. I also can it, which softens the bones and it’s better than canned salmon or tuna.
- Get a Job!! - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 1:31 pm:
@Honey,
If I’m not mistaken, the fish is actually pretty tasty. The biggest issue with it is that its very boney so it takes some time to skillfully filet.
- Down South - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 1:32 pm:
Additionally - while it seems everyone wants to see them jump and carry on - we work really hard at avoiding that - they tear up stuff on the boat, will black you eye, break you nose and in general create havoc. Every time a visitor asks us to “make them jump” the answer is resounding NO!
- Andy Nymous - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 1:34 pm:
If this happens, JB will have to appeal the taxes on his Gold Coast mansions.
- Down South - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 1:36 pm:
@Downstate - if you knew how many lakes these have infiltrated during floods you would be surprised. They survive just fine in them.
- New Angle - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 1:39 pm:
OMG Mike Madigan is responsible for this. Look for Brucer Ruiner’s next commercial.
- Downstate - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 1:42 pm:
Down South,
I presume they are jumping in the lakes then? There are lots of residential lakes across Illinois that would be devastated by this.
- Anonymous - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 1:44 pm:
Commercial fishing on the Calumet River? Ewww.
- Flippy - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 1:45 pm:
Can’t we hire fisherpeople to get out there and catch them and sell them to restaurants?
Some no-name fish once called “Patagonian Toothfish” later became “Chilean Sea Bass” and the rest is history.
- Dr. Bronners - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 1:49 pm:
Imo theyre already in the great lakes if one was past the barrier and less than 10 miles away. The only question now is how fast the growth of the population will be. Like an earlier commenter said, the best hope may be that there are other species in the great lakes that eat algae too.
- Anonymous - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 1:55 pm:
Three observations to inform the discussions:
1. US Army Corps of Engineers has a compete feasibility report on solutions to prevent Asian carp from reaching the Great Lakes. This release is being blocked by Trump/Pence White House.
2. As Governor, Pence was resistant to solutions on carp, and this will be on the record.
3. Although shipping has diminished for and relocated elsewhere, one of the more interesting businesses on the canal is the Koch Industries, with their storage of petroleum coke.
- Anonymous - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 2:36 pm:
@ Flippy
www.asiancarp.us/news/tastechicago.htm - IDNR brings Asian Carp to Taste of Chicago
flylifemagazine.com/asian-carp-has-cometh-by-the-ton/ - IDNR, through hired commercial fisherman, pull over 70,000lbs of Asian Carp from Illinois River in 3 weeks
- Keyser Soze - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 2:51 pm:
Carp lay eggs. Water fowl spread the eggs by flying to other bodies of water.
- carp are worse than crappie - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 2:56 pm:
The view from Milwaukee…
http://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2017/06/23/asian-carp-found-chicago-canal-just-9-miles-lake-michigan-shores/424233001/
- Me - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 4:08 pm:
The Corps solution is to basically cut the Illinois River off from Lake Michigan. How much economic damage will that cause the state?
- Veil of Ignorance - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 4:21 pm:
Lake Michigan is likely the single most important asset that Illinois has and we’re not doing enough to protect it on multiple fronts. Our next Governor and Chicago Mayor need to prioritize this.
- John Patterson - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 6:46 pm:
Seems like a good time to get in a plug for the annual Redneck Fishing Tournament in Bath. Help get a few thousand of these invasive critters out of the Illinois River and support charities that help veterans. And who doesn’t want to spend an afternoon on the river knee-deep in Asian carp?
Betty could could use some sponsors this year. Even CapitolFax is a past sponsor.
https://www.originalredneckfishin.com/
- FormerParatrooper - Friday, Jun 23, 17 @ 8:11 pm:
I rarely wore a PFD when I was out fishing, until a carp hit me so hard I almost got knocked out of my boat. Now I wear it every single time I am out.
They are here to stay, just too many of them to even believe we can eradicate them.