What the Carp?

The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI), the state’s powerful business lobby, is asking the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CoE) to consider the toll on the shipping industry when evaluating measures aimed at stopping the spread of Asian carp from expanding their range within the Mississippi and Ohio River basins. LABI fears that the invasive species – 3 of the 4 species were intentionally brought to the U.S. to control nuisance varieties of aquatic plants - could make their way into the Great Lakes, and also wreck havoc on commercial fishing. The fourth carp was introduced to keep a parasite-hosting snail in check. Commercial navigation trade is the “crux of our economy, and a main artery that allows the continued free-flow of commodities … from the Mississippi River to the Great Lakes," LABI's Courtney Baker wrote in the public comment. Four species of Asian Carp are Bighead, Silver, Black, and Grass. All four can grow up to 100-plus pounds. Asian Carp are now competing with native fish for food. The Mississippi River basin connects to Lake Michigan through a man-made waterway called the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. The CoE operates three electric barriers in the channel aimed at deterring carp from entering the Great Lakes. LABI asked the CoE to avoid measures that would impede ship traffic that “may or may not solve the problem" without supporting evidence of effectiveness and cost. The CoE is expected to reach a decision on which projects to implement by June 2018. (Source: NOLA.com 12/14/17)