LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION urging the New York State Congressional deleg-
ation to provide for the temporary closure of two locks in the Chicago
Sanitary and Ship Canal in order to prevent the migration of Asian carp
into the Great Lakes, and to appoint a special master to make recommen-
dations on more comprehensive measures to prevent this invasion

WHEREAS, The migration of Asian carp into the Great Lakes would have a
devastating effect on the waterways; and
WHEREAS, Many fear Asian carp will infiltrate the Great Lakes and wipe
out the other fish, delivering a devastating blow to the $7 billion-a-
year Great Lakes sport and commercial fishing industry; and
WHEREAS, These Asian carp can grow up to four feet long and 100 pounds
and are known to consume up to 40 percent of their body weight daily in
plankton, which could starve out smaller and less aggressive compet-
itors; and
WHEREAS, After escaping from Southern fish farms, these carp now swim
the entire length of the Mississippi and Illinois rivers; and
WHEREAS, There is an electrical barrier between the Mississippi River
and Lake Michigan that is designed to repel these fish from entering the
Great Lakes by delivering a non-lethal jolt, although recently, offi-
cials have found DNA from the Asian carp between the barrier and one of
the locks on the lake; and
WHEREAS, Once Asian carp invade Lake Michigan, scientists believe that
it will be impossible to stop these fish from invading all of the Great
Lakes; and
WHEREAS, New York State Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo has joined
Michigan and other Great Lakes states in a lawsuit to force preventive
measures against the Asian carp; and
WHEREAS, Since New York State borders both Lake Ontario and Lake Erie,
the invasion of the Asian carp will have a devastating effect on New
York State's fishing and recreation industries; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the New York State Congressional delegation be and
hereby is respectfully memorialized by this Legislative Body to provide
for the temporary closure of two locks in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship
Canal in order to prevent the migration of Asian carp into the Great
Lakes; this temporary closure will give officials the necessary time
needed to investigate the situation, establish the problem, and deter-
mine a solution; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the New York State Congressional delegation appoint a
special master to make recommendations on more comprehensive measures to
prevent this invasion; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to each member of the Congressional delegation from the State of
New York.