Asian Carp Still A Threat To Ohio's Economy

The threat of Asian carp is again looming over the Great Lakes, with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers being urged to take immediate action to stop the fish. Lake Erie has been described as especially "susceptible" to the invasive species.

The Corps recently submitted its final report on planning and preventing invasive species, like Asian carp, from moving from the Mississippi River into the Great Lakes. Ohio Attorney General and Governor-elect Mike DeWine weighed in on the issue this week.

“Time and time again those of us who care about the health and vitality of the Great Lakes and the tremendous economy they support have sounded the alarm on the need for fast, effective action to prevent the spread of Asian carp and other aquatic nuisance species to one of our country’s most valuable natural resources,” DeWine wrote.

The Corps has proposed installing electrical fences, noise generators, and water jets at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam in Illinois to keep the Asian carp out of the Great Lakes. DeWine has pressured the Corps to instead close the lock. He added that funding for the project should come wholly from the federal government.

“If the Army Corps moves forward with the Recommended Plan, it should do so urgently, effectively, and under full federal sponsorship," DeWine said.

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For years, Ohio officials have publicly worried about the threat of Asian carp, which could out-compete native species in the Great Lakes and choke the fishing and tourism industries in the Buckeye State. State Representatives, Kent Smith, from Euclid, has previously said that billions of dollars generated by Lake Erie are at stake.

Why should the everyday person care about Asian carp? The answer is simple: money, jobs, and ecosystem. The invasive fish species could severely damage each of the those fields, rotting the fishing and recreational boating industry (Asian carp have been known to launch themselves at high speeds onto boats and into boaters).

Photo from Rick Uldricks, Patch