INVASIVE CARP ARE HERE

Yesterday's Waterloo Region Record carried the following story titled "Grass carp invade three Great Lakes". This is hardly a surprise considering we've been advised one story at a time of their approach and then presence certainly in Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. That said I believe up till now we've been advised that the fish caught to date both in Lake Erie and even in the Grand River were sterile. That is no more.

These carp and their cousins Bighead and Silver carp were introduced intentionally in the U.S. for the purpose of controlling weed growth in waterways back in the 1960s. What a mistake as they have proliferated and expanded northwards courtesy of the Mississippi River and cargo channels into Lake Michigan. Steps to stop their migration including electric fences may have slowed them but haven't stopped them. Now Canada can enjoy their proliferation the same way U.S. states have as they basically take over the water environment and destroy other fish species.

This Record article states that they have been found in Lake Michigan, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. What happened to Lake Huron? Unless my geography is way off they must have gone from Lake Michigan into Lake Huron before moving downstream to Lake Erie and lake Ontario. Then there is also the small matter of Niagara Falls. You mean those buggers went over the falls and survived? Wow they really are a tough and hardy fish. This is a game changer and not for the good.