Asian carp that have invaded and steadily taken over rivers in America will meet the wrath of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers if they try to enter the Great Lakes.
The Army looked over 98 possible technological defenses. They settled on an electric barrier combined with noise generation. Low-current electrodes in the water will either stun or kill the carp as they approach the barrier. Water jets will then blow the fish backward and away from Lake Michigan. The noise generation is meant to confound the fish with sensory overload. Before the Corps can institute any of their measures, the face rounds of federal, local, non-profit, and for-profit organization approvals.
Commercial fishing efforts will continue to pull out the nuisance fish for food. The fish is often sold to Asia, where it is heartily consumed. Efforts to fish out the species for consumption in the United States have not yet achieved enough success. People still consider the rapidly propagating fish to be a nuisance.
Asian carp were brought over from China decades ago. They were introduced to deal with microscopic phytoplankton plants in aquaculture ponds and sewage treatment lagoons in Arkansas. Flooding caused them to escape and spread into the Mississippi River. Efficient feeding and breeding techniques allowed them to continue on their journey, creeping into the water systems that connect with the Mississippi River. The threat of their larger spread continues.
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