An additional $20 million in funding for Canada’s Asian carp program over the next five years was announced by the federal government in late January. The funding injection will allow the hiring of more personnel to monitor the Great Lakes and its tributaries. Staffing in the Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Asian carp program will grow from three people to 10.
The program’s goal is to track, analyze, and prevent the establishment of Asian carp in the Great Lakes.
“The ongoing funding announced last month will strengthen and expand the Asian carp program at Fisheries and Oceans Canada,” said Becky Cudmore, DFO manager of aquatic invasive species programs. “We will be able to increase our monitoring efforts at more sites along the Great Lakes, be even more prepared to respond to Asian carps sightings, and to conduct increased enforcement and outreach activities.
Ultimately, this investment towards combatting Asian carps will improve the health of Canada’s freshwater resources for generations to come.”
Originally published in the April 2018 issue of Ontario Out of Doors
