Pending and current plans
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The obvious course of action is to try to reduce the White Perch population and prevent the continual spread. The ideal move would be to erect a barrier to keep the fish out, and it has been proposed by many states, but shot down again. This plan would be costly and could pose unnecessary risks to the other fish who spawn in various parts of the river or lake. Instead, their have been propositions of physical and chemical/biological ways to purge the fish from our waterways recommended by the International Joint Commission (IJC)
Biological ControlBottom-up control, or reduction in food supply could result in the stunting of the White Perch population. Essentially, primary and secondary consumers so that some of their species die out as a result of limited resources. However, this is not a probable solution, because it would not only effect the White Perch population but other native fish that depend on minnows and other organisms that make up their diet.
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Chemical ControlChemical control proposals have been brought up many times, some still waiting approval, however, chemically controlling a species does not guarantee the environment's safety or ours. In 2011 the IJC introduced rotenone, a chemical compound of crystalline ketonic to be used as a pesticide. It disturbs cellular respiration by interrupting the electron transport chain in the mitochondria, essentially making it impossible for a fish to absorb oxygen in their blood, and thus they rise to the surface "gasping" for air and can be easily caught and killed. Another method involves increasing carbon dioxide levels under the surface by adding sodium bicarbonate or by bubbling pressurized gas under the water to "sedate" the fish. Both of these ideas obviously pose immediate threats to other species and therefore cannot be used due to safety risks of human or animal health.
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States making strides
Many states including Illinois, Iowa, Ohio, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Vermont as many restrictive measures have been taken to ensure they cannot be physically spread by humans from place to place. For example, in Iowa, it is required by law to kill a White Perch upon capture, disposing of it in any way. According to the Oklahoma Aquatic Nuisance Species Management Plan, the White Perch is ranked as a #1 priority species to eliminate. In the 2013 - 2015 Illinois Fishing Information, it is illegal to use White Perch as bait to prevent the spread of eggs or diseases such as Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia. In Pennsylvania, there is no season, bag, or weight limit when catching White Perch. It is estimated that more 50% of the entire White Perch population could be harvested without significant harm to fisheries, which only goes to prove how massive this species has grown.
Though, as the fishers and archers that harvest these fish, we too, are partially responsible for the spread of this species. Improper care and cleaning of fishing equipment after use can transport fish and eggs unbeknownst to the owner. Incorrect disposal and identification of species can lead to illegal release of fish back into water. For instance, it is very easy to confuse a White Perch with a White Bass and a Striped Bass, and as a result, you could be releasing a invasive species back into non-native waters without even knowing. In an Oklahoma study, only 3% of people knew a large amount about White Perch, 9% knew a moderate amount, 24% knew a small amount, and 64% knew nothing. As the dominant species on the planet, especially if you are a regular fisher or archer, we need to educate ourselves on the dangers that non-native species pose to our economy.
Though, as the fishers and archers that harvest these fish, we too, are partially responsible for the spread of this species. Improper care and cleaning of fishing equipment after use can transport fish and eggs unbeknownst to the owner. Incorrect disposal and identification of species can lead to illegal release of fish back into water. For instance, it is very easy to confuse a White Perch with a White Bass and a Striped Bass, and as a result, you could be releasing a invasive species back into non-native waters without even knowing. In an Oklahoma study, only 3% of people knew a large amount about White Perch, 9% knew a moderate amount, 24% knew a small amount, and 64% knew nothing. As the dominant species on the planet, especially if you are a regular fisher or archer, we need to educate ourselves on the dangers that non-native species pose to our economy.
Final Proposals
The Illinois Natural History Survey’s Illinois River Biological Station states that "modification, construction, and enhancement of environment" would only assist the White Perch and other invasive species in their spread through the Great Lakes. Since the White Perch originally gained entry to the Great Lakes through the canal system in New York, but then continued to move through the waterways as it saw opportunities with the reversal of the Chicago river and the Illinois Waterway, it is capable of entering through basins and and drainage. Now, the Upper Mississippi River System (UMRS) has updated plans for habitat restoration and construction, but they must also take into account the probable outcomes of their actions.
For the countless fishers and archers that depend on Lake Michigan, please educate yourself on fishing protocols and invasive species. It's as simple as surveying your fishing lines and rods for any stray eggs, checking your boat before you depart, cleaning your supplies, and rinsing your boots. Time, restrictive spread, and population control may be all we have to work with at the moment, but it is a start. Invasive species are costing the economy thousands of dollars. One single fish, one egg, can uproot all the work our city has put in to stop the spread of invasive species.
For the countless fishers and archers that depend on Lake Michigan, please educate yourself on fishing protocols and invasive species. It's as simple as surveying your fishing lines and rods for any stray eggs, checking your boat before you depart, cleaning your supplies, and rinsing your boots. Time, restrictive spread, and population control may be all we have to work with at the moment, but it is a start. Invasive species are costing the economy thousands of dollars. One single fish, one egg, can uproot all the work our city has put in to stop the spread of invasive species.
Consider the consequences.