Great Lakes, National Conservation Organizations Support Scientific Fish & Wildlife Conservation Act
OutdoorHub 04.03.14
National Wildlife Federation, Alliance for the Great Lakes cite Asian carp prevention and science-based fish and wildlife management as reasons for support
In a statement, national and Great Lakes state-based conservation organizations declared their support for the Scientific Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, for which Citizens for Professional Wildlife Management is circulating petitions in order to present the citizen initiative to the Michigan Legislature.
The organizations, including Alliance for the Great Lakes, National Wildlife Federation, Indiana Wildlife Federation, Minnesota Conservation Federation, Ohio Conservation Federation, Prairie Rivers Network (Illinois), and Wisconsin Wildlife Federation cited the $1 million rapid response fund to combat aquatic invasive species, especially Asian carp, as well as the promotion of scientific wildlife management as reasons for supporting the initiative.
The full text of the statement is below:
The undersigned organizations representing hundreds of thousands of people across the Great Lakes region support the Michigan citizen-initiated Scientific Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. This initiative will help combat the urgent threat of invasive species, such as Asian carp, and promote professional scientific wildlife management.
Right now the Great Lakes are facing one of the greatest threats in decades: Asian carp. They are voracious filter feeders that can grow to more than four feet long, weigh up to 100 pounds and quickly dominate a body of water by gobbling up the same food that sustains native fish populations. Some species are even known to injure boaters, by leaping up to ten feet out of the water. Urgent action is needed to prevent these invasive species from invading the Great Lakes and risking the $7 billion dollar commercial and sport fishery. This initiative will provide much needed financial resources to help combat invasive species, like Asian carp, in Michigan.
In addition, our organizations have long endorsed the sound scientific and sustainable management of fish and wildlife by responsible state and federal fish and wildlife professionals. From history and experience, we have found that the best way of ensuring healthy wildlife populations is through the support of scientific and professional wildlife management.
Signed Organizations
Alliance for the Great Lakes
Indiana Wildlife Federation
Minnesota Conservation Federation
National Wildlife Federation
Ohio Conservation Federation
Prairie Rivers Network (Illinois)
Wisconsin Wildlife Federation
