ESCANABA - The potential invasion of the destructive Asian carp was discussed by state representatives at a press conference Friday afternoon in Escanaba. The meeting took place at Escanaba's Sand Point Lighthouse, a shoreline location strategically chosen in order to bring attention to the species' possible devastation of the Great Lakes.
Since late December, the ongoing debate with Chicago bureaucrats and Illinois politicians has intensified, with Michigan politicians campaigning for the closure of the two Chicago shipping locks that provide a gateway to the harmful carp species.
Among the Friday meeting attendees were representatives Judy Nerat, D-Wallace, Mike Lahti, D-Houghton and Steven Lindberg, D-Marquette. Also present were Escanaba City Manager Jim O'Toole and a group of concerned local businesses and fishermen.
"We are in the Upper Peninsula and we know that we must be stewards of our precious natural resources. We are truly blessed to be able to enjoy our waters and great outdoors with our family and our friends," said Nerat. "The Great Lakes defines us as a state and it is our responsibility to protect them...they are a part of our way of life and they play a key role in our economy."
According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the two species of Asian carp that live in the Des Plains River in Illinois are the bighead and silver carp. These species concern fisheries biologists because they could potentially out-compete native species for food and habitat, posing a major ecological problem if granted access to the Great Lakes.
"These fish eat 40 percent of their body weight daily and grow to be as long as four feet and weigh one hundred pounds," explained Lahti. "Because of their ability to thrive in
the climates like the Great Lakes and consume large amounts of food. They would quickly become the dominant species in the Great Lakes. Native fish and other species would die."
The potential ecological harm is not the only negative effect being considered by the state. According to proponents of the Illinois gate closure, the Asian carp will also place unwelcome strain on Michigan's multi-billion dollar fishing and boating industries.
"The workers who depend on our $7 billion fishing and $9 billion boating industry are counting on us to protect their waters and their livelihood, but as we stand here today, our Great Lakes are on the brink of economic and environmental catastrophe," explained Nerat. "In this the worst economy we've seen in generations, we need to have everything we can to protect every single job. Sadly, some Illinois politicians and Chicago bureaucrats are standing in the way of our efforts to protect the Great Lakes and the jobs that rely on them."
Despite the unified front of politicians and residents from New York, Ohio, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Ontario, the government's decision to keep the locks open has rested almost entirely on the Illinois influence. In fact, Lindberg pointed out the state's most recent victory against the Michigan and the other Great Lakes states.
"The U.S. Supreme Court just recently denied an emergency motion to close the two shipping locks that would prevent the further spread of the Asian Carp," said Lindberg. "This backward decision came just hours before the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers reported a water sample from Lake Michigan contained Asian Carp DNA - a key fact that may have affected the courts decision."
Nerat pointed out that although Illinois also borders Lake Michigan, its stance as a proponent for the locks of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal to remain open has been unwavering. "As much as we love our friends in Chicago, when it comes to Asian carp, Chicago isn't called the 'Windy City' for nothing. So far, all we've heard is a lot of talk and lip service while seeing very little action," said Nerat. "These Chicago politicians are holding our fishing and boating industries hostage, they are holding our workers, jobs, hostage. And we are here to say we aren't going to take it," she added. "We want one simple thing - the closure of the two shipping locks where Asian carp DNA has been found."
According to Nerat, an upcoming meeting between Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Washington administration may help, but will not be enough to prevent and protect the lakes. "On Monday, three Great Lake governors, including Michigan's governor, will meet with administrative officials in Washington to discuss the threat of Asian Carp," said Nerat. "While these summits are well and good, we can't risk more talk with no action to prevent the spread of the carp...Michigan's fragile economy cannot take another blow like the impact of the Asian carp invasion."
Each representative attending the meeting encouraged Michigan residents to get involved in the fight against Asian carp by joining their public campaign and sending a virtual "boatload of carp" to the Illinois governor and Chicago politicians. Residents can do this by visiting www.noasiancarp.com.
