EcoLocalizer

With concerns over climate change globally, you might think that the last thing that environmentalists would worry about would be the natural food chain of wildlife; but for the Great Lakes there could be severe consequences posed if the carp manage to enter waterways they’ve been barred from entering.

• » See also: On the Brink of Extinction: Call to Close Cruel and Inhumane Tiger Farms
• » Get EcoLocalizer by RSS or sign up by email.

Electric barriers and other systems have been used to block the Asian carp from entering four of the five great lakes that might be threatened ecologically by the species (Lake Superior excluded as its waters are too cold for these fish). The species, which would be at the top of the food chain for these waterways would take over the environment and destroy the eco-system by following their role and eating the smaller fish and other resources available in the Great Lakes.  After finding DNA and excrement from the fish in the Great Lakes, some are worrying that some of the Asian carp might have already managed to get through the blockades , potentially compromising the $4.5 billion fishery industry that relies upon the wealth of resources than can be found in them.

Locks separating the Great Lakes from the inland waterways have already been closed in many areas to prevent the fish, which can grow as large as 100 lbs from entering, but some have voiced fears that any that might have already found their way through may reproduce and create a real environmental problem.

Although protection and preservation of species is a good thing, in this case, it feels more as though “environmetalists” are working towards preserving the industry coming from the Great Lakes rather than the species living in them.

Via: Reuters

Image Via: Flickr Use RoadSidePictures with a Creative Commons License

Tweet This Post

You might also like: