Asian Carp: The Invaders

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In 1831, Asian carp were brought over as a delicacy. Asian carp are originally from Asia (Barbara A. Somervill 13). They were imported by catfish farmers in 1963 for federal research on controlling aquatic vegetation. In 1966, the first Asian carp had escaped into Arkansas waters. By 1970, grass carp we're being stocked in Arkansas waters to help with over vegetation. In 1972, big head carp were brought in the United States by a fish farmer in Arkansas to improve his water quality and fish production. In 1973, silver carp were introduced for phytoplankton control (Watershed Council 1). Over time, they were brought over for different reasons and made their way into many of the United States waters. The federal government had transported the invasive species to help the waters but, they did not realize the bad effects that the fish would have on the future environment. People need to find a way to stop them before it’s too late. Their rapid breeding has had a great toll on the environment and is still affecting it today. Over population can destroy the environment

and the millions of creatures around it. The spread of Asian carp could be fatal to our native fish species (Barbara A. Somervill 24).
The term "Asian carp" has been used to include the species that pose an immediate threat to the wildlife. While the Michigan Department of Natural Resources pose a significant threat to the biological community and recreational opportunities, in the Great Lakes region it is especially concerned with the bighead and silver carp. There are four types of carp known as bighead, black, silver and big head and silver carp can get up to one hundred pounds and grow up to five feet. Black carp can weigh up to one hundred fifty pounds (D’Arcy Eg...

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...arp need to be stopped before they take over any more water. They are disrupting the natural fish habitats as well as the other creatures living in the waters. They are not helping the environment anymore. They are just creating problems for our future.

Works Cited

Garrison, Ronnie. "Asian Carp Problems - Invasion of the Asian Carp." About.com Freshwater Fishing. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 May 2014.

Landers, Jackson. "Monstrous Leaping Fish Are About to Invade the Great Lakes. Here’s How to Stop Them." Slate Magazine. N.p., 2014. Web. 9 May 2014.

Payette, Peter. "Michigan Chefs Experiment with Asian Carp." Michigan Radio. N.p., 26 Mar. 2013. Web. 8 May 2014.

Somervill, Barbara A. Asian Carp. Ann Arbor, MI: Cherry Lake Pub., 2008. Print.

"'Wonder Fish' Turns into Environmental Piranha: The Battle Against Asian Carp." Cleveland.com. N.p., 23 Oct. 2011. Web. 9 May 2014.

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