Asian Carp

Trend

The spread of exotic species is familiar by now to most people on the planet. Global commerce has only increased the speed of travel of invasive plants and animals that crowd out the native flora and fauna. The costs can be almost incalculable.

Some exotics function as nuisances, like the Kudzu vine that is taking over the American South. It’s hard to take a drive down any highway in Georgia without seeing trees drenched and drowning in the kudzu’s grasp. Other exotics threaten the entire way of life of the region. The Asian Carp poses that type of threat to the Great Lakes region of the United States. When the Asian Carp makes it into the Great Lakes it will likely decimate the thriving fishing industry, costing thousands of jobs and robbing residents of a valuable food source.

Five states have recently sued in federal court to close the great “carp highway” that they expect will bring the carp into Lake Michigan. But even installing barriers and closing shipping channels will only slow the march of the carp.