Fish 'em out of there

SPRING VALLEY — The state of Illinois is looking at a program to deal with Asian carp in the Illinois River.

Spring Valley Walleye Tournament Director Mike Hurless updated the Spring Valley City Council Mon-day on a plan to reduce the carp, which are driving commercial fish from the river.

On Feb. 13, Rep. Frank Mautino (D-Spring Valley) introduced House Bill 4906, which would require the Department of Natural Resources to establish a one-year pilot project to stimulate the bulk harvest of Asian carp in the Illinois River and to increase the number of native fish. The law would require coordination with commercial fishermen, and set a minimum price for Asian carp at $0.10 per pound from November 2008 through April 2009 and $0.12 per pound from May 2009 through October 2009.

“Right now, they’re not worth enough for the fishermen to go out and catch and take to market,” Hurless said.

Hurless said there is a company that is exporting two million pounds of the fish annually to China.

“They’ve developed an all white meat patty,” he said. “They’ve developed the patty, but it still has a bone problem, so they’re working to get rid of the bones.”

Hurless said there will be a presentation of the program at a meeting at the Spring Valley Boat Club at 7 p.m. on Monday.

Asian carp were first introduced to the United States in the early ’70s to control algae in catfish farms in the south. Floods washed them into the Mississippi River basin in the ‘80s where they have become a threat to native river species and the viability of the Great Lakes.

Hurless said there are millions of fish in this area, and the 20- to 40- pound fish can be dangerous.

“They’re the ones flying around hitting people, hitting skiers and boaters,” he said.

Hurless said this program makes sense.

“Fish ’em out of there,” Hurless said.

Hurless said that if left alone, the carp could result in the end of the annual walleye tournament.

“They won’t eat us, but they’re going to knock us off the river,” he said. “And ours isn’t the only tournament.”