Invasive Species–Asian Carp

Asian Carp, or Silver Carp, were brought over to the U.S. in the 1970’s and 1980’s to control plankton and algae in fish ponds.  During floods in 1993 and 1995, however, the fish were transported into Midwest rivers, including the Mississippi River.  These carp eat about 40% of their body weight in plankton daily.  They have become a nuisance for fishers, seen as how their reaction to immediate environmental disturbances is jumping out of the water.  This can cause major problems for boaters, who can in some cases be pushed off of their boat.  Many fishers wear protective facial gear while boating at high speeds to prevent broken noses, and many boats have protective nets. 

Yahoo! News

With the abundance of this asian carp in our rivers, you would think fishers would start profiting.  These fish, however, and nearly impossible to gain a profit from.  So, unchecked by humans, the carp keep multiplying.  The newest idea is to start using the fish in a “carp cake” as food at zoos.  The carp would be cheaper for the zoo to buy, and it would cut down on their population.  While these fish are not full of nutrients, it is easy for the zoologists to inject vitamins and minerals into carp cakes. 

People are doing whatever they can to keep the carp out of the Great Lakes.  If they start cutting down the population and area occupied by these fish, there is a greater chance of saving our own Lake Michigan from invasion.

MSNBC

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