Instance of Carp North of Barrier No Indication of Self-Sustaining Population
CHICAGO, June 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Recently, during routine monitoring efforts related to the control of Asian carp in the Illinois Waterway System, member agencies of the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee announced that a single Asian carp has been found near Calumet Harbor. As a result of this latest development UnLock Our Jobs released the following statement:
"A few isolated incidents of Asian carp in this small section of the Illinois Waterway does not mean existing barriers have failed," stated Mark Biel, executive director of the Chemical Industry Council of Illinois. "According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, there are 21 pathways through which Asian carp could have been introduced north of the barrier - including recent heavy rainfall and human transport. In fact, the U.S. EPA is currently studying the collected specimen in an attempt to determine its source. While this is sure to result in renewed calls for permanent closure, such drastic action is simply unwarranted given the effectiveness of the electric barriers and the facts on the ground."
Biel continued, "The discovery of Asian carp up river of existing controls demonstrates the need for a comprehensive long-term approach to dealing with the spread of Asian carp. The goal is to prevent the carp from establishing a self-sustaining population in the Great Lakes. The Army Corps of Engineers has confirmed that at this time there is no need to close area locks over this discovery. As the government's own studies have shown, lock closure undermines the resources and regional support necessary to solve this problem, while doing nothing to protect the Great Lakes. Additional regulatory controls and river barriers should be explored before permanent lock closure is even considered."
To learn more about what this most recent discovery means for waterway commerce, view our latest fact sheet, here.
UnLock Our Jobs is a coalition dedicated to protecting the essential waterway connection between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River corridor. A project of the Chemical Industry Council of Illinois, coalition members represent agriculture, business, labor, river communities, and concerned citizens working towards a comprehensive solution to stop the spread of Asian Carp, while leaving the Chicago locks open to commerce.
To speak with Mr. Biel or other UnLock Our Jobs experts, please contact Lisa Burgess at [email protected] or (202) 257-0983.
SOURCE UnLock Our Jobs
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