Title
Request for Adoption of a Resolution in Support of keeping Asian carp out of the Great Lakes
Body
Whereas, the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence represent the largest body of surface fresh water in the world and are a vibrant, diverse ecosystem that is critically important to the economic well-being and quality of life of the Canadian and U.S. populations in the region;
Whereas, over 180 invasive species have entered the Great Lakes and its connecting water ways over the years and caused widespread damage and disruption to the natural balance of the system, as well as significant economic damage;
Whereas, one of the most serious threats ever presented by invasive species currently comes from Asian carp, including silver, bighead and black varieties;
Whereas, these varieties of carp were introduced to the southern United States for use in fish farms for algae control in the 1970's and escaped into the Mississippi River system;
Whereas, invasive species have already inflicted hundreds of millions in damage across the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence, and invasive carp pose a serious threat to the $7 billion sport and commercial fishery that support the economy and help define the culture of the entire region;
Whereas, the invasive carp have migrated northward through the Mississippi River system as far north as Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, reducing significantly or eliminating populations of the more desirable species of fish because of their voracious food consumption and prolific reproduction;
Whereas, the invasive carp are threatening to enter the Great Lakes at a number of points across the region;
Whereas, many federal, state, provincial, and local government agencies in the United States and Canada have worked diligently and expended tens of millions of dollars over the past 10 years on a variety of projects to keep invasive carp out of the Great Lakes;
Whereas, including the invasive carp, there are 39 invasive species in the tw...
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