Please excuse the cross posting

ACTION NEEDED IMMEDIATELY
(Part 1: Introduction to the Problem)

This message is a call for action to try and prevent the spread of the
exotic black carp throughout North America. The black carp is a large (up
to a meter in length) mollusc-eating fish that has been imported from Asia
into North America (Arkansas and other states) by the aquaculture industry.
Black carp were first introduced into the U.S. in the early 1970s as a
"contaminant" in imported grass carp stocks.  The second introduction came
in the 1980s when the species was imported as a food fish, and as a
biological control agent to combat the spread of yellow grubs in
aquaculture ponds.  The Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society, American
Fisheries Society (the nations largest society of fisheries professionals)
and other organizations have called for the elimination of all black carp
stocks in North America.

Four other Asian carp species (common, grass, bighead, and silver carps)
have been introduced into U.S. waters, and all have been able to establish
themselves in the wild, producing large populations.  The large numbers of
Asian carp that presently occur in certain parts of the Mississippi River
Basin undoubtedly are producing significant negative impacts on native fish
species. However, the black carp poses an even greater threat to native
invertebrate populations because it feeds almost exclusively on mollusks.
As most of you are aware, the southeastern United States has the most
diverse freshwater molluscan fauna in the hemisphere and perhaps the world.
Freshwater mollusks are the most endangered group of animals in North
America, with over 70% of our native mollusk species in need of
conservation.

Last fall the Mississippi Interstate Cooperative Resource Association
(MICRA) learned that the state of Mississippi had decided to allow catfish
fish farmers to import reproductively viable (diploid) black carp from
Arkansas to control snail populations in their catfish ponds.  This raised
a significant "red flag" with other Mississippi River Basin states.  First,
because of the great potential of black carp to proliferate in the wild and
also because other methods of grub control utilizing native fish species
are available and have been used successfully in other states.

The Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society, MICRA, and others sent letters
to the governors of Mississippi and Arkansas asking that all black carp
presently stocked in Mississippi be recovered and destroyed, or kept in
closely controlled, laboratory-like environments which could guarantee that
escape to the wild would be prevented.  Copies of three MICRA letters on
this subject can be downloaded in .pdf format from MICRA at
http://wwwaux.cerc.cr.usgs.gov/MICRA (simply scroll down the table of
contents).  MICRA also expressed interest in assisting Mississippi, or any
other state or federal agency, by providing resources and expertise, and
experience using native species or other measures as alternatives to black
carp in treating the grub problem.

On 24 February 2000 MICRA petitioned Jamie Rappaport Clark, Director of the
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), to list the black carp
(Mylopharyngodon piceus) as an "injurious species of wildlife" coming under
jurisdiction of the Federal Lacey Act.  The Lacey Act prohibits the import
and/or possession of any species listed as "injurious" without a Federal
permit.  MICRA expressed concerns that: (1) diploid (fertile) black carp
are being used in the state of Mississippi as a control agent for snail
populations in fish culture ponds, (2) the potential for the escape of
these black carp to the wild is high, and (3) the nation's mollusk
populations (many of which are threatened or endangered) could be
devastated should the black carp escape from captivity and establish wild
populations.

Of even greater concern is the fact that 90% (191 species) of the native
mussel species designated as endangered, threatened, or of special concern
are found in the Southeastern states - not far from where the black carp
are being stocked.  Forty-eight percent or 102 of these species are endemic
to that region of the U.S., and the black carp have the potential of
driving some of these species to extinction.  Black carp also could have a
profound negative effect on native fingernail clam populations which serve
as a primary food source for many migratory waterfowl species in the
Mississippi flyway and elsewhere.

There is ample biological evidence to justify preventing black carp from
being used anywhere in the U.S. for any purpose.  However, the final
decision on this matter, and therefore on the ultimate fate of our native
mollusk fauna will be made by the USFWS.  Those who support the use of
black carp are busy lobbying their Congressmen and USFWS to protect their
perceived right to continue that use.  Those who oppose the use of black
carp will have to do the same.  I am urging you to contact the individuals
listed below the Fed Register Notice and ask them to exercise their power
to list the black carp as an "injurious species of wildlife" under the
jurisdiction of the Federal Lacey Act.

For Additional information see:
http://nas.er.usgs.gov/fishes/accounts/cyprinid/my_piceu.html

http://www.glrc.org/archive/2000/january00/jan24_f1.html

PART 2 is a copy of the notice in the Federal Register and PART 3 that is a
letter that you can send (or draft your own) to voice your concern on this
issue.  All comments must be received by 1 August 2000.
Kevin S. Cummings
Research Scientist
Illinois Natural History Survey
607 E. Peabody Drive
Champaign, IL 61820
[log in to unmask]
http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/cbd/collections/mollusk.html