Asian Carp; An Interesting Environmental Science Experiment.

DNA from the invasive Asian Carp has recently been found in nearby Lake Michigan.  Biologists fear that this large invasive fish can cause ecosystem collapse, as these fish are voracious feeders.  So far, DNA from these fish have not been found in Lake Erie or Presque Isle Bay, however, based on past events it may be just a matter of time.

When I was a child, my grandfather used to tell me about the blue pike fishery.  He told me that boats would go out in the early morning and return with literally hundreds of blue pike.  No one ever thought that blue pike could be fished to extinction.  Now the blue pike are gone.  Yellow perch numbers are strong and sportfisherman now catch many more perch due to the cessation of commercial gill-netting which was a great move for all but commercial fisherman.  Walleye numbers are pretty good.  Steelhead numbers are excellent. 

But what happens when this big fat carp gets into our lake?  Well, all I can say is this; I did not know what zebra mussels were before they invaded and I did not know what the heck a round goby was until I actually caught one.  Now, both of these invasive species can be found almost everywhere you look in both the bay and the lake.

Many fish are using both of them as food sources.  I certainly don't want them in the lake but one must admit that the lake is a lot clearer than it was 30 years ago.  Fisherman are also catching Lake Trout off of the piers so it is possible that the zebra mussel has benefitted the Lake Trout. 

For the shore fisherman, the round goby is a royal pain in the neck.  They attack the bait very quickly and usually strip the hook before a nice perch can find it.  I don't know about you but the government should do everything in their power to stop this Asian carp before it gets here unlike they did about the zebra mussel or round goby.  If the Asian carp feed as aggressively as the experts say they do, it is possible they can cause the depletion or total extinction of other native fish species.

So far, agencies have failed in stopping the spread of invasive species into the great lakes.  Let's hope that for this one they can finally do the right thing and use every means possible to prevent this alien fish from entering our waterways.  Should have kept it in Asia.

One group that is watching this issue closely is Save Our Native Species.  Please consider donating to them or another organization that is working for the benefit of the great lakes ecosystem.