Missouri officials plan to initiate a new program aimed at getting rid of an invasive species, while on a national scale, it’s time for the marine industry to push wildlife legislation in Congress.
In the Show-Me State, conservation officials are set to initiate a program they believe can rid the Mississippi River of four invasive carp — bighead, silver, black and grass — collectively known as Asian carp. These fish were imported from Asia and put in southern farm ponds to control weed growth.
And they did it well, until they escaped during flooding, got into the Mississippi River and multiplied. Then they traveled upstream and into adjacent rivers and tributaries, eventually threatening to enter the Great Lakes via Illinois waterways, where millions of dollars are spent on electric fences and other means to block their movement.
Management and control of ravenous carp are necessary to keep them from wiping out native fish. It’s feared that if carp get into the Great Lakes officials they will wipe out the $7 billion (per year) fishing industry.
The Missouri Department of Conservation says carp are present throughout the state and the Mississippi basin, and that it’s time for action. According to reports in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch by Kurt Erickson, the department announced it is seeking a vendor to manage a new program that will pay commercial fish harvesters an incentive to sweep two sections of the Mississippi to get rid of carp.
Missouri’s plan is to offer 7 to 10 cents per pound for carp caught and sold to a processor, wholesaler or other buyer. Carp are edible. In fact, they’re a popular food fish in Asia. It’s often listed as “copi” on menus. Still, states such as Illinois also promote commercial harvesting as part of an effort to keep the fish from entering the Great Lakes via the Chicago River.
Save America’s Wildlife
For dealers, the decline of fish and wildlife stocks, along with the loss of habitat, is one of our greatest threats. Scientists estimate that one-third of fish and wildlife species in the United States are at risk of becoming threatened or endangered.
However, legislation has been reintroduced in the U.S. Senate that could help remedy this problem. Known as the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, the new bill would dedicate $1.39 billion annually to state and tribal fish and wildlife agencies to implement science-based recovery plans.
It hardly seems hardly too much to ask when the federal the budget provides more than $1 billion annually to plant urban trees and grasses. So justifying action to recover and protect against the threats to fish and wildlife should be a no-brainer.
As an industry, we stand for clean water and healthier fish habitats, which will ultimately benefit all with more fishing opportunities.
So take a minute to stand up and be involved. Click here to tell your senators to support the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act.
