GEORGIAN BAY—Georgian Bay Great Lakes Foundation has, for three years, been urging the United States to take steps to stop invasive grass carp, “the greatest threat to our wetlands,” according to the Georgian Bay Great Lakes Foundation (GBGLF).
Mary Muter, chair of the GBGLF, reported some very good news on October 10 from the State of Lake Huron Conference in Saginaw, Michigan.
“US Rep Dan Kildee (D-Flint Township) announced US funding of $1 million to begin a grass carp population management program while speaking at the State of Lake Huron Conference,” reported Ms. Muter, in a release. “This news follows GBGLF’s considerable efforts and calls to stop the grass carp invasion.”
“We are pleased that Rep. Dan Kildee and Rep. Marcy Kaptur led the way for the bi-partisan passage of this important additional grass carp funding amendment,” said Ms. Muter. “Both the US House and Senate have passed legislation for $1 million funding to target and remove grass carp that are now established on the US side of Lake Erie. The legislation has to now get passed in a joint House and Senate appropriations (funding) bill expected soon. The funds will be given to the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, which is already planning a multi-agency response strategy to begin next spring.”
Ms. Muter explained, “If not stopped, the voracious wetlands-vegetation-eating grass carp would rip apart our high-quality wetlands and destroy the spawning and nursery habitat vital to our native fishes. If all the Great Lakes were invaded by grass carp, the cost of the loss of these ecological services could mount to $1.8 billion per year. The significant funding of a Grass Carp Population Management program represents another milestone GBGLF’s work as stewards of the Great Lakes to protect and preserve them for future generations.”
