A binational coalition of American and Canadian officials is intensifying its battle against invasive carp. These fish present existential ecological and economic threats to the Great Lakes, and the coalition has been fiercely committed to defending this important ecosystem. These fish were first brought to the United States in the 1970s to control nuisance algae in aquaculture ponds. They have rapidly become one of their biggest threats due to their explosive breeding cycle and voracious appetites.
These invasive, non-native carp—which include species such as black, silver, bighead and grass carps—can eat 40% of their body weight every day. In addition, they can spawn multiple times per year, laying hundreds of thousands of eggs in one spawning event. Fisheries scientists and invasives advocates caution that if they become entrenched in the Great Lakes, the ensuing ecological disruption will be disastrous.
The Ecological Consequences
The Great Lakes are the largest system of freshwater surface waters in the world, so protecting them should be a no-brainer. Environmental Defense Fund Chief Scientist Mike Shriberg recently told E&E News the deep worry about the importance of this issue.
“There is nothing that I have seen that scares ecologists more than looking at what the impacts would potentially be if the species of Asian carp that are in the Illinois River get into the Great Lakes and form a breeding population.” – Mike Shriberg
Once invasive carp obtain a foothold, the ecological balance of our water will be subject to dramatic changes. Shriberg opened with this sobering fact. The backwards-looking data are dramatic, but the sheer scale of potential devastation is stunning.
Additionally, Alex Price, another expert in aquatic ecosystems, highlighted the adaptability of these fish:
“Within the first year of life, they can be too big for our [natural predators] to eat.” – Alex Price
In addition to their rapid growth rate, their highly prolific/over-abundant breeding habits make controlling their population harder than ever.
Political Support and Bipartisan Efforts
The need to stop the invasive carp crisis soon has brought support from the highest reaches of government. In May, President Donald Trump signed a memo encouraging efforts to address this dangerous threat. The unique memo received widespread praise on both sides of the political aisle. The problem has escaped its partisan confines. Perhaps surprisingly, it has united the states that surround the Great Lakes, including Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin—all historically defined as electoral swing states.
Even with this political consensus on the importance of this matter, there is worry over wider geopolitical tempers. Shriberg noted that the current climate of hostility between the Trump administration and Canada could jeopardize collaborative efforts necessary for addressing this invasive species threat.
“The Trump administration’s hostility towards Canada … threatens to blow that apart.” – Mike Shriberg
Ongoing Monitoring and Future Challenges
Canadian authorities are currently engaged in active invasive carp surveillance in Great Lakes tributaries. These regions provide perfect conditions for the carp’s spawning and feeding. These warmer, shallower areas of grassy seabed are perfect nurseries. The Grand River, a tributary to Lake Erie, is one of the places where these monitoring efforts are increasingly being focused.
As such, Canadian officials have only caught a handful of invasive carp in their waters since 2012. Experts remain vigilant. James Hall, a local fisherman who encountered an invasive carp, shared his initial reaction:
“I was wondering what it was, but I knew it was something different.” – James Hall
Despite ongoing efforts to control their spread, experts express skepticism about completely eliminating the invasive carp population should they establish themselves fully in the Great Lakes.
“I don’t believe that you’d have any chance of actually eliminating the population.” – Mike Shriberg