Invasive species are a major concern and IMO is addressing this matter through ballast water regulations. The USA and most Great Lakes states have introduced even more stringent regulations than IMO, all this to preserve the ecosystem of the Great Lakes.
Canada and the US are doing a great job in controlling compliance of the ballast water measures in place, through a joint inspection program of ballast water tanks in ships, before they are allowed to enter the St. Lawrence Seaway System in Montreal. The hope is that no more nuisance species find their way into the worlds largest freshwater system.
While the entry door for foreign invaders is closing on this side, the backdoor in Chicago will remain open for the Asian Carp to enter the Great Lakes and potentially wreak havoc in this ecosystem.
On January 19, 2010 the US supreme court rejected a request by a coalition of US States to force the US Army Corps of Engineers to close the lakeside navigation locks of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. One economic argument was to protect the $ 7 Billion annual fishery on the Great Lakes, as this giant leaping fish can upset entire ecosystems.
Dennis Bryant made me aware of Representative Camp's H.R.4472 bill in the US House of Representatives, directing the Secretary of the Army to take action with respect to the Chicago waterway system to prevent the migration of bighead and silver carps into Lake Michigan, and for other purposes.
Maybe there is a chance this back door to Lake Michigan will be closed for invasive species?
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