Friday, February 28, 2025, 3:07PM |  38°
MENU
Advertisement
Grass carp
1
MORE

Invading Lake Erie: Senate must approve funds to control grass carp

United States Geological Survey

Invading Lake Erie: Senate must approve funds to control grass carp

The stakes are high for the lake region’s $7 billion fishing industry, for the lakes’ ecosystem, and for tourism

Two types of Asian carp snare the most attention, but dealing with their voracious aquatic cousin, grass carp, shouldn’t be forgotten. Funds to combat grass carp have been added to a broader spending bill that recently passed the U.S. House. The Senate needs to approve it as well.

The State and Foreign Operations Appropriations bill had $500,000 slated for grass carp until some lawmakers successfully pushed an amendment to add another $500,000 before the House approved the overall bill, sending it to the Senate.

The grass carp funds would be a first of such earmarked money for the U.S.-Canada Great Lakes Fishery Commission, which manages and protects the Great Lakes, the largest body of freshwater in the world.

Advertisement

Grass carp, which are native to eastern Asia and are raised in China as food, are an invasive species found in Lake Erie. Each one consumes up to 100 pounds of aquatic vegetation a day and in the process destroys habitat for other fish and wildlife.

Go to section

A 2017 report by U.S. and Canadian researchers sounded an alarm.The fish previously had been low in numbers in the lake and all were sterile, but new evidence revealed increasing numbers and some were found able to reproduce.

The $1 million in the House bill would enable the dual-nation commission to work with the Great Lakes states and Ontario to find ways to manage and control grass carp. The money would help put boats and researchers on the lake and tributaries to gather information on where grass carp are, where they are spawning, and where they are feeding. Then the funds could be used to find ways to curb or stop their population growth.

Advertisement

The stakes are high for the lake region’s $7 billion fishing industry, for the lakes’ ecosystem, and for tourism. There are more grass carp in western Lake Erie than anywhere else in the Great Lakes, researchers say. If the fish aren’t contained, the Great Lakes could be invaded by the species, with serious consequences.

The $1 million earmark needs to be approved by the Senate and quickly put to work to protect Lake Erie and its sister bodies of water.

First Published: July 6, 2019, 11:15 a.m.

RELATED
SHOW COMMENTS (0)  
Join the Conversation
Commenting policy | How to Report Abuse
If you would like your comment to be considered for a published letter to the editor, please send it to letters@post-gazette.com. Letters must be under 250 words and may be edited for length and clarity.
Partners
Advertisement
Ohio State quarterback Will Howard passes against Notre Dame during first half of the College Football Playoff national championship game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta.
1
sports
Steelers NFL draft big board: Best fits at quarterback
Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic takes a timeout during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025.
2
sports
Penguins rally after Alex Nedeljkovic’s outburst, beat the Flyers in overtime
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, center, and teammates run the 'Tush Push' play during an playoff game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, in Philadelphia.
3
sports
Ray Fittipaldo: The Packers are right. The NFL should ban the 'Tush Push'
The 1860s farmhouse at 317 James St. in Verona has a new gray and black color scheme.
4
life
Buying Here: Brooklyn chef snaps up an 1860s farmhouse priced at $230K
Janet Broniecki pushes a cart of bread into a temperature-controlled proofer to let the dough rise before baking. Mancini's  produces 10,000 loaves a day, 7 days a week.
5
life
Iconic Eats: McKees Rocks-based Mancini’s Bakery has been feeding the area since 1926
Grass carp  (United States Geological Survey)
United States Geological Survey
Advertisement
LATEST opinion
Advertisement
TOP
Email a Story