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January 20, 2010
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Twice a week, John Platt shines a light on endangered species from all over the globe, exploring not just why they are dying out but also what's being done to rescue them from oblivion. Follow on Twitter @johnrplatt.
Twice a week, John Platt shines a light on endangered species from all over the globe, exploring not just why they are dying out but also what's being done to rescue them from oblivion. Follow on Twitter @johnrplatt.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday said it would not help stop the spread of invasive Asian carp by ordering the closure of locks between Chicago-area waterways and Lake Michigan. A suit from Michigan and four other states, plus Ontario, had requested closing the locks to block Asian carp from entering Lake Michigan and damaging its ecosystem, as they have done elsewhere in the country.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Asian bighead (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) and silver (H. molitrix) carp were imported into the U.S. in the 1970s as a method to remove algae from catfish farms. But flooding in the 1990s overflowed farming ponds and sent the large, voracious fish into the Mississippi River, where they have managed to outcompete, outbreed and out-eat local species.
"We cannot allow carp into the Great Lakes. It will destroy our Great Lakes fisheries, the economy," Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm said in a prepared statement. The commercial fishing industry in the Great Lakes is worth more than $7 billion a year. The locks, meanwhile, are vital to shipping throughout the Great Lakes region.
So far, other attempts to block the northward invasion of Asian carp—including electric fish barriers and poisons—have not proved effective.
The Supreme Court didn’t reveal any of the reasoning behind its ruling, which simply read: "The motion for preliminary injunction is denied."
Even if the locks had been closed, there’s no guarantee they would stop the carp. Maj. Gen. John Peabody of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which maintains the locks, told the Associated Press, "The locks are leaky, and there are alternate pathways around them."
And as if to prove that point, the Corps announced Tuesday that DNA from Asian carp has been found in Lake Michigan for the first time, although no actual carp have been observed. The DNA was found in water samples (pdf) taken from Calumet Harbor and the Calumet River.
"Clearly this is not good news," Peabody said in a statement, "But environmental DNA technology provides the advanced warning of the possible presence of Asian carp, so that all agencies supporting the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee can focus their efforts and resources to optimal effect."
The Supreme Court’s denial isn’t the end of the story. Michigan’s lawsuit continues, and Granholm plans to ask for a White House summit with President Obama and the other Great Lakes states governors. "We are asking for an immediate summit at the White House with the administration to shut down these locks, at least temporarily, until a permanent solution can be found," she said.
Image: Asian carp by Kate Gardner, via Flickr (Creative Commons license)
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The court is simply saying "The economy is more important than the environment, life or anything else in America".
Its government of the rich, for the rich and by the rich worldwide. The only thing the rich want more of is Money. That "imaginary" (not a number whose square is negative) number they see as their wealth in quicken.
Link to thisWell that’s just great. The US Supreme Court is unilaterally making a decision that will affect the Canadian half of the Great Lakes as much as the American side. Thanks, USA, once again for being such a considerate neighbour.
Link to thisSupreme Court? Minimal court! What do they care about the environement? They only care about ideology. Conservative ideaology. If that wrecks the world, so be it. May they rut in hell!
Hans L
Link to thisBefore we blame the "conservative" US Supreme Court for this, we might want to remember that the Obama administration sided with the State of Illinois in their efforts to resist the closure of the locks. And before we blame the entire USA for this, we might also want to consider that the governors of the other Great Lakes states are fully in support of closing the channel to protect the lakes.
Link to thisFor the rich of the rich by the rich….
Earth to the scientist….
Do you work? Have a job? Your comment is crazy talk by people without comprehension of a cohesive society. Without people aspiring to be wealthy by creating companies and commerce no one would have a job. And you would not be able to write your response on your computer you must using at your local library.
Link to thisWork existed long before capital and certainly before "companies and commerce" . Work now is primarily exploitation of the poor to increase the wealth of multi-millionaires.
By the way — Do you actually consider this to be a cohesive society?
Link to thisLet’s hope so.
Link to thisFishing in the Great Lakes provides about 7 billion dollars of income to Canada and the US. This industry will be ruined if that species successfully plants itself in the largest fresh water resource on the continent.
The charges you’re making apply only to yourself.
Link to thisWell of course they are going to turn this DOWN..Not enough money at this time..They couldn’t hide the other half that would be set aside for special interest of a personal nature…Bring this back when you can justify 100% more money to spend…
Link to thisWell of course it would be turned down…Your not asking for enough money…If you up it by 500%, they could justify it and then between the ( inside ) split of the money (pork-belly add- ons ) and $500.00 hammers You too might get something done……………………….For the GOOD does nothing for them….What’s in it for them….your prayers will be answered
Link to thisLake Michigan and the other Greats have already been impacted by invasive species…the Lakes are treasures, we cannot risk further damage. Once this process is allowed to occur, there is no turning back. Let’s have some foresight and fight for our natural assets.
Link to thisAsian carps are good sources of protein. They sell for roughly the same price range as barramundi etc in Asian fish markets. Somehow Americans would not consume any carps, but would cheerfully chow down basa (Vietnamese catfish) fillets.
If carps are properly promoted as a food fish, given a more palatable name, and sold in markets as tasty pre-cooked meal at a reasonable price, it may catch on with the public just as basa did. If this should happen, there may not be enough carps in the rivers to fill the ever increasing American stomachs, and market forces would save the native great lake species.
Link to this?
Link to this