GLIN==> Administration Misses Opportunity to Protect Great Lakes from Asian Carp Threat

Alliance for the Great Lakes - Great Lakes United - Healing Our
Waters-Great Lakes Coalition - National Wildlife Federation - Natural
Resources Defense Council - Sierra Club

Administration Misses Opportunity to Protect Great Lakes from Asian Carp
Threat

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (January 6)—The Obama Administration yesterday opposed
taking emergency measures to protect the Great Lakes from the threat of
Asian carp— including the temporary closure of two Chicago locks —siding
with defendants in a court case that will be taken up by the U.S.
Supreme Court on Friday.

The administration’s action is in response to a lawsuit brought in
December by Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox—and since supported by
the attorneys general in Indiana, Minnesota, New York, Ohio and
Wisconsin and the Canadian province of Ontario. The lawsuit calls for
measures to separate Lake Michigan from Asian-carp infested rivers and
canals, including an emergency and temporary closure of two Chicago
navigational locks that are the last barrier preventing the invasive
fish from entering Lake Michigan and the other Great Lakes. The
emergency measures would buy time to develop a permanent solution to the
problem.

DNA evidence taken by University of Notre Dame researchers suggest that
the invasive Asian carp - specifically the silver and bighead carp
species - have breached an electric fence in the Chicago Sanitary and
Ship Canal and are within 6 miles of Lake Michigan. 

Bighead and silver carp are large filter-feeders that out-compete native
fish for food and habitat. Individuals can weigh up to 110 pounds for
bighead carp and 60 pounds for silver carp. Boaters have been injured by
silver carp because the fish is easily startled and hurls itself out of
the water and into or over boats in response to boat motors.

Conservation groups criticized the Obama Administration’s actions:

“By aiming for the status quo, these filings miss the real target,” said
Joel Brammeier, president and CEO of the Alliance for the Great Lakes.
“Five states have spoken loudly and clearly that the connection
between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi has already become a
liability. Separating these systems is the only pathway to protection.”

“The Obama Administration has miscalculated the threat Asian carp pose
to the Great Lakes,” said Andy Buchsbaum, regional executive director of
the National Wildlife Federation’s Great Lakes Regional Center. “Without
immediate action, an invasion of Asian carp will unravel many of the
President’s Great Lakes initiatives. Regardless of what happens in the
Supreme Court, the Obama administration needs to do the right thing.”

“The Asian carp pose an immediate, very significant threat to the entire
Great Lakes region, and we have a limited window of time in which to act
to prevent their entry into the Lakes,” said Emily Green, director of
the Sierra Club’s Great Lakes Program. “We are counting on the Obama
Administration to take the lead in addressing this threat and to take
all actions necessary to prevent the carp from entering the Great Lakes,
including an emergency closure of the locks. The stakes are too high for
anything less.”

“Illinois and the federal government are walking away from a huge
opportunity to fix real problems in the region, and instead favor the
easier embrace of the status quo,” said Henry Henderson, director of the
Midwest program for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). 
“Asian carp are now knocking on the door of the Great Lakes precisely
because the state and federal agencies in charge have responded slowly
and ineffectively. They cannot now argue that they have this problem
under control when they are the ones who allowed this emergency to
develop in the first place. Whether they like it or not, the State of
Illinois and Army Corps of Engineers are on the hook with responsibility
to protect the Great Lakes.”

 “DNA says that least a few carp have breached our only line of defense,”
said Jennifer Nalbone, director of invasive species and navigation for
Great Lakes United. “If DNA evidence is good enough to put criminals in
jail, DNA evidence should be good enough to pull out all the stops to
protect the Great Lakes and close those locks.”

“The Obama Administration has made Great Lakes restoration a top
priority, which is why we are disappointed that it has chosen not to
pursue closing the locks to protect the Lakes from the Asian carp,” said
Jeff Skelding, campaign director for the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes
Coalition. “Failure to confront the threat of the Asian carp threatens
to undermine the progress the nation is making to restore the Great
Lakes and revive the economy.”

For Immediate Release:
January 6, 2010

Contact: 
Joel Brammeier, Alliance for the Great Lakes, 773-590-6494
Andy Buchsbaum, National Wildlife Federation, 734-887-7100
Emily Green, Sierra Club Great Lakes Program, 608-695-4994
Josh Mogerman, Natural Resources Defense Council, 312-651-7909
Jennifer Nalbone, Great Lakes United, 716-213-0408
Jeff Skelding, Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition, 202-797-6893


Jordan Lubetkin
Senior Regional Communications Manager
National Wildlife Federation
Great Lakes Regional Center
213 W. Liberty St., Suite 200
Ann Arbor, MI 48104-1398
www.nwf.org/greatlakes
www.healthylakes.org

Phone: (734) 887-7109 
Cell: (734) 904-1589

Inspiring Americans to protect wildlife for our children's future.