Great Lakes face $200m annual economic risk from invasive species

[cedric]

Two separate studies released yesterday reveal a dim reality for both the ecological health of the Great Lakes and the businesses that rely upon them.

The economic toll of the 57 invasive species that ocean-going ships have dumped into the lakes since the St Lawrence Seaway opened in 1959 are costing the United States alone about $200m annually, or $2bn per decade. That number, released by federally funded researchers at the University of Notre Dame, does not include any impacts to the Canadian economy, and only looks at the economic damage done to the lakes' fishing industry, businesses that tap the lakes for their water and the regional wildlife viewing industry.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/17/usa.water

[Dr.Phool]

1. I'm flying to Cleveland this evening.

If they give me just 10% of that I'll leave peacefully.

[HereSince1628]

2. Yeah it's just a terrible shame that those foreign species

have introduced so much PCB's, Chromium, and Mercury in Lake Michigan that the fish are not considered safe to eat for women and children (Why does the DNR hate adult males?)

What? Introduced species didn't do that? Oh, then never mind

At least grass carp are edible.