2012 Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework

Feb 23: The Obama Administration announced a series of new measures to protect the Great Lakes from Asian carp, which they said builds "on the unprecedented proactive plan the Administration established in February 2010 to prevent this invasive species from developing self-sustaining populations in the Great Lakes." The 2012 Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework adds several initiatives to the comprehensive effort to combat Asian carp, including expanding eDNA sampling to additional areas in the Great Lakes region, deploying new nets and other technologies to enhance Asian carp capture rates, and developing cutting-edge biological controls and monitoring technology, among other measures.

    John Goss, Asian Carp Director at the White House Council on Environmental Quality said, "This strategy builds on the unprecedented and effective plan we are implementing to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes while we determine the best long term solution. The 2012 Strategic Framework will strengthen our defenses against Asian carp and move even more innovative carp control projects from research into implementation." Cameron Davis, Senior Advisor to the U.S. EPA Administrator said, "With Congressional and Presidential support for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, we're getting results in shielding the Great Lakes from invasive species. Investing in a healthy Great Lakes means a healthy economy." The Fish and Wildlife Service and Army Corps of Engineers also issued comments. 

    In a release, the agencies said the Obama Administration has invested more than $100 million dollars to protect the Great Lakes from Asian carp and formed an Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (ACRCC) in 2009 to ensure a comprehensive and effective response. The Administration released the original Asian Carp Framework in February 2010 to develop and implement effective Asian carp controls and keep the invasive species from establishing a self-sustaining population in the Great Lakes while a permanent solution is developed. Updates to the Framework in 2012 include:

• Deploying new alternate traps and nets and other technologies to enhance Asian carp capture rates.
• Implementing eDNA sampling at Great Lakes areas of concern with particular focus on southern Lake Michigan, western Lake Erie and other potential hotspots.
• Ensuring continued electrical barrier effectiveness through expanded use of telemetry and split beam hydro-acoustic monitoring.
• Refining water guns to repel carp and evaluate their effectiveness at repelling juvenile and larval Asian carp.
• Assessing the feasibility of using pheromones to capture and remove Asian carp.
• Identifying potential compounds for inclusion in a toxicant screening program for controlling Asian carp.
• Developing targeted control systems for Asian carp based on species-specific digestive system characteristics.
• Expanding law enforcement surveillance and enforcement of illegal transportation of federally listed invasive species.
• Increase Asian carp outreach and education efforts through the Great Lakes Sea Grant Network.

    Access a release from ACRCC and link to the complete 2012 strategy and a funding matrix (click here).

 

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