Statements On Introduced Bills And Joint Resolutions

Floor Speech

By Mr. LEVIN (for himself, Mr. VOINOVICH, Mr. SCHUMER, Mr. FEINGOLD, Mrs. GILLIBRAND, Mr. DURBIN, and Ms. STABENOW):

S. 1421. A bill to amend section 42 of title 18, United States Code, to prohibit the importation and shipment of certain species of carp; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, today I am introducing the Asian Carp Prevention and Control Act to list bighead carp as injurious under the Lacey Act, along with Senators VOINOVICH, SCHUMER, FEINGOLD, GILLIBRAND, DURBIN and STABENOW.

Asian carp are a significant threat to the Great Lakes because they are large, extremely prolific, and consume vast amounts of food. The Bighead carp grow quickly and can grow to over 50 pounds. In addition to the harmful ecological impact that the Bighead carp has had to native fisheries, these fish pose a considerable hazard to boaters and can cause human and property injuries.

The Bighead carp compete with native fish for food and habitat. The Bighead carp, along with the other species of Asian carp, account for the majority of fish in the Missouri River. These fish have little economic or sport value compared to native fish.

The Bighead carp are used in aquaculture ponds in the South to control algae, and because of flooding in the 1990s, the fish escaped the aquaculture ponds and entered into the Mississippi River. They have spread to most of the Mississippi River watershed and the Missouri River. Because the Mississippi River is connected to the Great Lakes through a man-made sanitary and ship canal, the Asian carp are now close to invading the Great Lakes. Fortunately, the Corps of Engineers is operating an electric dispersal barrier to prevent the carp and other non-native fish from moving between the Mississippi River and the Great Lakes.

I want to make sure that all pathways to introduce the Bighead carp are blocked. The legislation that I am introducing today would list the Bighead carp as injurious under the Lacey Act. Listing the Bighead carp as injurious would minimize the risk of intentional introduction by prohibiting the importation and interstate transportation of live Asian carp without a permit. This legislation would not interfere with existing state regulations of the fish, and permits to transport or purchase live Bighead carp may be issued for research or educational purposes. The Fish and Wildlife Service has already listed three other species of Asian carp as injurious through rulemaking procedures.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill. This country is facing a serious challenge as a result of thousands of invasive species, like the Bighead carp, being introduced into this Nation.

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