BURLINGTON—On Monday, the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Regional Minister for southwestern Ontario, joined by Member of Parliament for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound Larry Miller, announced the opening of a new Asian carp science lab in Burlington.
Rather than shipping samples for analysis outside of the country, the new lab will allow Fisheries and Oceans Canada scientists to rapidly test samples collected in Canadian waters, right here in Canada, a press release from the ministry states. “Researchers will now get testing results in a matter of hours instead of days or weeks, saving both time and money in the ongoing monitoring to prevent Asian carp entry.”
Employees from the new facility will also now be conducting routine early detection inspections in high-risk waterways starting this summer.
Asian carp pose a significant threat to recreational and commercial fishing industries which would also mean an impact on jobs, families and dozens of local economies, the press release continues.
In May 2012, the federal government announced up to $17.5 million in funding to protect Canada’s Great Lakes from the threat of Asian carp. Those funds were allocated over five years for the prevention, early warning and management of these potentially destructive invasive species. The new state-of-the-art lab, housed in the Canada Centre for Inland Waters, is part of this initiative.
“The potential presence of Asian carp in our waterways presents a significant threat for our waterways, and in turn our commercial and recreational fisheries,” said Minister Diane Finley. “We now have a state-of-the-art facility in Burlington which means that faster and more reliable research for invasive species can take place right here in Canada.”
“I am very pleased to announce the opening of this state-of-the-art laboratory,” the minister continued. “This brand new facility will bolster our efforts to fight the entry of Asian carp into the Great Lakes. It is a key part of our government’s commitment to ensuring Canada has the best tools available to mitigate the risk of Asian carp in the Great Lakes.”
