Something fishy is going on in Chicago.
The "Windy City" is taking measures to stop Asian carp from taking over Lake Michigan. Asian carp, which are over 3 feet long, pose a threat to fishermen because they leap out of the water when scared by boat engines, The Telegraph reported Tuesday. If the fish make it to the Great Lakes, the area's fishing and tourism industries could suffer.
Chicago is planning on barricading its canal system to thwart the carp invasion. The Illinois Natural History Survey Station has even installed nets around boat steering wheels and dashboards as a precaution.
"It's simply one of the most dangerous things that we're doing, so we have to protect ourselves," Kevin Irons, a specialist from the Station, told The Telegraph. "We can't have a fish jumping on the throttle or a fish knocking somebody out."
Asian carp are capable of eating a fifth of their body weight each day. Nearly 12 can jump out of the water at one time, increasing the risk of slapping someone in the face.
"The fish have battered boaters, making rivers unsafe for water recreation," said the National Wildlife Federation, the nation's largest conservation program, The Telegraph reported.
The fish also threaten other fish species that naturally live in the area, including bass.
"I've gone down the river and had these fish jump up and hit me in the face," said Michael Beecham, an environmental campaigner, The Telegraph reported. "It is a big problem for our natural species."
Asian carp have been in the U.S. since the 1970s, when they were used in fish farms in the South. The carp were useful for making sure the catfish ponds remained clean, a safer alternative to using harsh chemicals, The Telegraph reported. But the fish somehow made it to other parts of the country. Asian carp have been found in 23 states, according to National Wildlife Federation information obtained by The Telegraph.
A previous attempt to block the Asian carp using an electric fence failed, leading the U.S. Army Corps of engineers to conclude that using a physical barrier to separate the Mississippi River and the Great Lakes is the best way to "stop invasive species from wreaking environmental and economic harm," The Telegraph reported.
