Asian Carp in the Illinois River

Jeremy Thomas

 

 

Asian carp in the Illinois River has become a major economic and ecological issue.  Being from the Chicago land area, this has become an increasing problem locally as they continue to move upriver towards Lake Michigan.  As a fisheries major and angler, the advancement of the carp raises many issues that could be very devastating to recreational and commercial fishing in Illinois and Lake Michigan.  Locally, if the Asian carp make it to the rivers and streams surrounding Chicago they would destroy the native species by out competing with them for resources.  In some stretches of the Illinois River they occupy as much as 60% of the biomass in the river.  Asian carp are filter feeders so they feed on rotifers and zooplankton which mean many important species have to compete with them, such as the gizzard shad.  These native species have declined causing populations of game species like bass and walleye to decrease as well.  If the spread continues towards Lake Michigan it would cause the sought after streams and rivers to become filled with nothing but Asian carp and be undesirable to anglers. 

There have been some efforts to stop the spread by installing electric fences across the Illinois River in a few areas.  So far they have worked but not 100%.  Some of the carp still manage to make it through the fences.  A permanent solution must take place which would be closing all the locks and dams.  I think this is the only solution to the problem but many believe that keeping them open for the few barges that pass thought each year is more important.  As an individual who has a special interest in natural resources I am unable to grasp the fact that they are willing to put Lake Michigan at risk due to a handful of barges that pass through.  If the Asian carp were to invade Lake Michigan, the economic toll would be tremendous.  Although Lake Michigan does not produce as much as the other Great Lakes it still has a large number of jobs that rely on the fishing industry.  They have already taken a hit once from the invasion of zebra mussels which are also filter feeders.  Production of the lake has already declined a huge amount and the question is how much more can the native species handle.

Many states have taken this issue to court but have failed to get the locks and dams closed.  If nothing is done soon this will be an incredible irreversible mistake that could end Lake Michigan fishing as we know it.  As a fisheries major and angler it worries me greatly what our lake would turn into if taken over by Asian carp.  I think it will take all the anglers from around Lake Michigan to come together and fight to protect our waters from this invasive species.  If we do not put a stop to it now, who knows how far it will actually spread.