Asian carp threaten lakes

Driving along the Maumee River during springtime, one can see a long line of fishermen wading in swiftly moving waters under the bright sun, while car after car parking alongside the road as families scramble towards the water with fishing poles. When the water's shallow, a few gather courage to cross it all the way to the other side. The Maumee River looks like a great place for fun adventures come spring and summer.

But recently, many feel a certain invader threatens this breathtaking scenery.

Scientists at a biological station in Sandusky are concerned that if Asian carp invade the Great Lakes, the ecosystem will change drastically. The scenario worries scientists so much, it has prompted engineers to erect a $200,000, 10-foot high, chain-link fence in waters to keep them out.

Other fish can't compete with Asian carp, which are known to uproot mud and vegetation while hunting for food. Their presence could monopolize the food chain and cause other fish populations to collapse, devastating the Great Lakes. This has already been seen in parts of the Mississippi River, where they constitute 90 percent of the fish population.

An insatiable appetite coupled with explosive reproduction rates make it difficult to keep these fish in check. Additionally, they have no predators in the water.

Biologists contend that the Maumee River is the perfect link for the Asian carp to access Lake Erie. The rich vegetation in the Maumee would be more than enough to cause their populations to explode.

Many are worried the carp will take over the Great Lakes through a Chicago canal that connects the Mississippi River and Lake Michigan. Through Lake Michigan the fish would travel to Lake Huron and finally Lake Erie via the Detroit River.

Despite an electric fence keeping them out of the Chicago canal, Asian carp DNA has penetrated the barrier. In Eagle Marsh near Fort Wayne, Ind., where Asian carp have been found, water drains into the St. Mary's River which joins the Maumee River. The chain-link fence seems effective now, but many are worried it will open when flooding occurs. There also exists the threat of yearlings, younger and smaller Asian carp, crossing through. The fence was just a temporary solution; a permanent one should be found.

The Great Lakes bring in $7 billion annually, and Lake Erie fishermen catch more fish in Lake Erie than what's caught in the other lakes combined, according to a Blade article. These figures are just in sport-fishing alone. Lake Erie also brings in more money with its waves in tourism and water sports. It's likely an invasion of Asian carp would devastate the lake's native fish population and cripple local lake-related industries.

Ohio needs to concentrate on stopping the Asian carp migration. Fisheries need to pull together and think of effective ways to drive these fish out. Draining the wetlands of Eagle Marsh could stop those populations from filtering through, but the area's constant flooding prevents that from being a permanent solution. The Asian carp invasion should be treated as a regional problem, not a federal one. This will keep a solution from being prolonged due to Washington stagnation. One of the easiest ways to put the fish on the plate for discussion is simply by spreading awareness. Informed residents who rely on these threatened waters for income and leisure could help motivate research teams attempting to solve the problem.