Issue Position: Invasive Species and the Asian Carp

Issue Position

I am a long time duck hunter, and I recognize the importance of protecting our natural resources. To offer this protection, the Great Lakes ecosystem must be protected from all invasive species. This means that steps need to be taken to prohibit the infiltration of new species, while also working to limit the negative effects of those already in our lakes.

The Asian Carp are making their way into the Great Lakes predominantly through man-made canals, one in particular. I believe that ecological separation is the only way to deal with the Asian Carp problem. I believe that the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal must be closed and alternative-shipping methods must be pursued in order to make the separation the most effective. The canal is an important resource for numerous companies. However, the fishing and tourism industry, both of which will suffer immense losses if the Asian Carp become a thriving member of the Great Lakes ecosystem, are the backbone of hundreds of cities in all of the Great Lake states and Canada. Some of these cities' economies are entirely dependent upon these two industries, and if they were eliminated, then these already struggling tourism centers would have to overcome another daunting hurdle in an already stiff economy.

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