Why in the US they want to get rid of a harmless silver carp

Once a silver carp was brought to the United States solely with good intentions. And the matter was not even in its nutritional value, but in the ability of the species to filter water, which positively affects the state of water bodies in the warm season. Starting from the 70s of the last century, silver carp was actively planted in cleansing ponds and ponds, where the rapid development of algae and the so-called flowering of water were previously observed. But today this species threatens the well-being of the aquatic fauna of the Great American Lakes. The situation is so serious that the authorities have already spent more than one hundred million dollars on the fight against dangerous fish.

In the USA, white and motley silver carp were introduced, whose homeland is East Asia. In fairness, it is worth noting that the United States is not the only country that wanted to bring this species into its reservoirs. Silver carp is actively bred in Europe and Asia. These are large fish, reaching a length of 1 meter, and individual specimens weigh up to 50 kilograms. Filter fish successfully coped with cleaning water bodies, and everyone was pleased with its appearance in ponds and lakes. But alas, like most introduced species, the silver carp after some time was seen where it should not be. From this moment, the pursuit of ecologists for fish dangerous for natural ecosystems began, but the silver carp always turned out to be one step ahead.

Why is he so dangerous? Despite the fact that this species of fish does not eat other fish and does not pose any physical threat to them, it is their food competitor. Moreover, a very large and voracious competitor who is able to swallow food in a day, equal in weight to the weight of his body. Of course, such a good appetite is dangerous for native fish species, which simply will have nothing to eat where an unpretentious silver carp will settle.

Despite the size and high dietary value of meat, American fishermen do not really favor silver carp with their attention. Perhaps this is due to the abundance of bones. One way or another, the fishermen also do not greatly contribute to the regulation of the number of silver carp, and he continues his triumphal march through the inland waters of the United States. Environmental services have repeatedly taken measures to prevent its further progress, but all was unsuccessful.

The next plan in the head of ecologists has ripened after it became clear that silver carp threatens the ecosystem of the Great American Lakes. Erie, Huron, Ontario, Michigan and Upper are the pearl of North America, the pride of the United States and Canada, as well as a unique-sized group of freshwater lakes across the planet. Lakes are interconnected by water arteries, therefore, once in one of them, silver carp will quickly master the rest. And if the silver carp settles here, this invasion will cause irreparable damage to the ichthyofauna of the lakes.

Even the US Army engineers were involved in solving the problem, but alas, it did not bring any special results. The great lakes are connected by numerous channels to the US rivers, including the Mississippi, where the silver carp has long settled. Not so long ago, the presence of this species was recorded only 70 kilometers from Lake Michigan in one of its tributaries. There is less and less time to solve the problem, and perhaps the silver carp has already penetrated Lake Michigan.