There's movement along several fronts in the battle to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes.
At the Maumee River flashpoint, the Indiana DNR plans to install a mesh barrier at Eagle Marsh. The hope is to prevent the travel of carp from the Wabash River to the Maumee River (a Lake Erie tributary) in the event of flooding.
There's little to report concerning the Chicago flashpoint. On the one hand are groups that want the Chicago locks closed as a sure measure to prevent carp from reaching Lake Michigan via the locks. On the other hand are groups with a vested interest in the locks that argue against closure and cite the need for further science.
The Obama administration plans to appoint a carp czar within a month to oversee state and federal issues during the ongoing battle.
Lastly, Illinois governor Pat Quinn announced a partnership with a Chinese packing company whereby Asian carp would be commercially harvested then sent to China for consumption, where the fish is a delicacy. Several groups, however, have raised the specter of PCB, mercury and chlordane contamination in the carp, which are bottom-feeders.
All BassFans, and especially those who care about the Great Lakes, are encouraged to call or write their representatives in Congress and tell them that Asian carp must be stopped.
