Ohio’s plan to tackle Invasive carp has been seen by industry experts as a potential ‘turning point’ in the fight against Invasive species in the state.
The ‘Ohio Department of Natural Resources Invasive carp Tactical Plan 2021-2030’ is a wide ranging plan to tackle the spread of Bighead, Grass, Silver and Black carp in the Buckeye State.
The plan identifies several low and medium risk connections to the Great Lakes from the Ohio river system – these include
- Mosquito Creek Lake (Trumbull County)
- Grand Lake St Marys (Auglaize County)
- Ohio Erie Canal (Summit County)
- Little Killbuck Creek (Medina County)
The Highest Risk
The report is honest about the scale of the problem faced from Invasive carp. The plan does not cover every possible opportunity available to combat Invasive carp but it does set out a roadmap to deliver projects and infrastructure to stem the flow, and prevent non-native fish from reaching the Great Lakes.
The ultimate aim of the tactical plan is to ‘Create permanent separation of Ohio’s critical Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) pathways at Little Killbuck Creek by 2024 and Grand Lake St Marys by 2022 and provide long-term maintenance at the connection at Ohio Erie Canal that was closed in 2020.
Dr David Lambert, Managing Director of Fish Guidance Systems has welcomed the plan. “The problem of Asian carp in America’s waterways is more than a state-level issue – but it has a state level solution. I am really pleased that states like Ohio are doing what is necessary to prevent Invasive carp from reaching the Great Lakes.”
“All solutions to this problem, including our BioAcoustic Fish Fence system, are only effective in a waterway setting. Once the carp reach the Great Lakes it is impossible to stop them from gaining a foothold. Ohio’s Tactical Plan could definitely be a turning point”.
Innovative Solutions
With over 25 years of experience in the deterrence and deflection of fish in a wide variety of locations, Fish Guidance Systems can provide innovative solutions such as the BioAcoustic Fish Fence found at Barkley Lock, Kentucky.
As part of a coalition of agencies, including the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Service, United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Army Corps of Engineers we are trialing and reporting on the system, with preliminary results expected to be released as soon as they are available.
For more information on how Fish Guidance Systems can help your state, please contact [email protected], and If you would like to learn more about what is being proposed within the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Invasive Carp Tactical Plan 2021-2030, please follow the link below.
