Troubled Waters

Asian carp were first introduced into the southern United States in the early 1970s to remove algae from farmed catfish ponds. Flooding in the early 1900s caused many of the catfish farm ponds to overflow, and Asian carp were released into local waterways in the Mississippi River basin. The carp have since migrated northward up the Mississippi River, becoming the most abundant species in some areas of the River. Asian carp are of particular concern to the Great Lakes region because of the potential harm they could cause to the native ecosystem. Asian carp currently present in the Mississippi River physically lack a stomach, so they must continually feed on aquatic vegetation. Native fish species have difficulty competing with Asian carp because of their rapid consumption of resources. This book provides an overview and background of the threat of Asian carp migrating into the Great Lakes and what can be done to avoid this threat.