You read that right, it's not about click-bait. This is the figure that the Corps of Engineers, or the section of the army specializing in engineering and design, he estimated to cope with a problem environment that has now become a scourge in the USA: the invasion of carp Asian.
Actually, this phenomenon is not news. Over the last 10 years have been allocated several million dollars, but they proved insufficient for solve the problem. Rather, the carp continued theirs conquest of American fresh waters.
But for what reason investing a lot of money to stem these fish? The invasive species theme, or animals / plants that come voluntarily or involuntarily transferred by the human being in regions where they are not present. They are initially defined "Alien species", but if they are comfortable and able to spread, they are renamed "invasive species".
This problem represents one of the main causes of biodiversity loss, to global level. In Italy, just to name one, the catfish fish (Ball catfish), came from Eastern Europe, has now colonized most of our own waterways and threatens strongly many native and endemic species: indeed, is extremely voracious and there are no predators to bother him.
Instead, Asian carp were imported over the years 70 in fish farms in the south of the States, because thanks to their voracity they acted as "cleaning fish". They can in fact ingest a quantity of plankton equal to 40% of their weight. Evidently some managed to reach the waterways and then spread like wildfire. In particular, the silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) it is the most successful species.
But own their voracity yes is transformed from solution to problem: Not only decimate plankton, which is at the base of the food chain, but they are also extremely competitive. The main consequence is the risk of extinction for many native species ed endemic.
The not everything causes "only" considerable environmental damage but, to the moment, are also estimated 9 billions of dollars of damage annually towards the American fishing industry, that it represents a real economic power in this country.
The project in question, which must see congressional approval, is aimed at preventing carp from reaching and invading the Great Lakes region. If this happens, they would risk collapsing the aquatic environment and the economy of this region at the same time.
In particular, action would be taken at the Brandon Road lock and dam, Illinois, about 40 miles from Lake Michigan, a key point along the path between the lake and the carp infested Illinois River.
If approved, the plan will include modern electrical barriers, to prevent Asian carp from moving through the locks and dike, and the installation of underwater loudspeakers that would generate sound waves to stun the fish as the ships move through the locks themselves.
Sources: https://www.nationalfisherman.com/gulf-south-atlantic/army-corps-approves-778m-plan-to-push-back-asian-carp/
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