Asian Carp Essay
Common Name: bighead carp, black carp, grass carp, and silver carp (collectively known as Asian Carp)
Scientific Name: Bighead Carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) Black Carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)
The bighead carp, black carp, grass carp, and silver carp, collectively known as Asian Carp was first introduced in the United States in the 1970’s when catfish farmers imported them to maintain the plankton in their catfish ponds. The Asian Carp escaped the ponds during heavy floods and made their way into the Mississippi River and can grow 4 ft. long and weigh up to 100 lbs. Since this time the Asian Carp has multiplied and become a real problem for the Mississippi River and all connecting waterways (Sudduth, 2010). The Asian Carp is native to Eastern Asia and there are no known predators in the United States. Furthermore, the Asian Carp poses great danger to the native species that live along the Mississippi and adjoining waterways such as; larval fish, muscles, and gizzard shad (National Invasive …show more content…
Humans who use live carp for bait can also contribute to the spread of these pesky fish. There is a great fear that they will invade up to 40% of the U.S. waterways causing disastrous damage. Furthermore, there is a great fear that they will invade the Great Lakes which could seriously cause billions of dollars a year to the fishing industry (U.S. Natl Park Service). There has been great effort to prevent the spread of the Asian Carp in the Great Lakes by putting electrical barriers up between water ways that connect to the Great Lakes. There is also plans in the works to separate the Great Lakes completely from all water sources within the U.S. to prevent the spread of the Asian Carp
Scientific Name: Bighead Carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) Black Carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)
The bighead carp, black carp, grass carp, and silver carp, collectively known as Asian Carp was first introduced in the United States in the 1970’s when catfish farmers imported them to maintain the plankton in their catfish ponds. The Asian Carp escaped the ponds during heavy floods and made their way into the Mississippi River and can grow 4 ft. long and weigh up to 100 lbs. Since this time the Asian Carp has multiplied and become a real problem for the Mississippi River and all connecting waterways (Sudduth, 2010). The Asian Carp is native to Eastern Asia and there are no known predators in the United States. Furthermore, the Asian Carp poses great danger to the native species that live along the Mississippi and adjoining waterways such as; larval fish, muscles, and gizzard shad (National Invasive …show more content…
Humans who use live carp for bait can also contribute to the spread of these pesky fish. There is a great fear that they will invade up to 40% of the U.S. waterways causing disastrous damage. Furthermore, there is a great fear that they will invade the Great Lakes which could seriously cause billions of dollars a year to the fishing industry (U.S. Natl Park Service). There has been great effort to prevent the spread of the Asian Carp in the Great Lakes by putting electrical barriers up between water ways that connect to the Great Lakes. There is also plans in the works to separate the Great Lakes completely from all water sources within the U.S. to prevent the spread of the Asian Carp