MUTUAL AID SOCIETY OF AMERICA, INC. 103 Methodist St., Cecilia, KY 42724 Ph. 270-307-4857; fax. 270-862-4379 email: jimmiller5417@gmail.com

May 25, 2010

Mr. Jeff Trandahl, Executive Director
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation 1133 15th Street., NW Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: 202-857-0166
Fax: 202-857-0162
info@nfwf.org http://www.nfwf.org/

Re: Remediation of mid-American River System

Dear Mr. Trandahl:

The great mid-American system of rivers and lakes hold the native fish species genomes which must be preserved. These native fish are under heavy attack from the invasive Asian Carp. Thus far, I have discovered nothing on the NFWF website which suggests NFWF is aware of the problem or is taking action to effect a solution. NFWF is not alone in this state of lack of action concerning the invasive carp. True, some Great Lakes states have tried to shut down the hydro-connection between the Great Lakes and the Upper Mississippi River Basin, but to no avail. Some experimental fish kills have taken place. Electric barriers are in use, hoping that the DC current will prevent migration between the two bodies of water.

The suggestion has been made that because the Asian Carp invasion affects the Mississippi River basin, that the solution should be basin-wide. As of now, this suggestion has not taken root among the NPO's, state and federal governments of USA and Canada. (MISSISSIPPI INTERSTATE COOPERATIVE RESOURCE ASSOCIATION Summary of Permit Authority and Prohibited Species by State With Special Emphasis on Asian Carp, http://www.asiancarp.org/Regulations/ansregus%20MRB.pdf) While the debate, science experiments and turf battles rage, the Silver and Bighead continue to gorge themselves on zooplankton and phytoplankton and happily continue to reproduce, adding greater stress to the native fish population.
The only recommendation of practical substance for a solution is the removal of the adult Asian carp population. (Asian carpsbiological synopsisandenvironmental risk assessment; http://www.fws.gov/contaminants/OtherDocuments/ACBSRAFinalReport2005.pdf) Thus far, no concrete steps have been taken to implement this solution on a commercial, basin-wide scale. The above study recognized that a massive number of fisherfolk, using 20' skiffs and a three person crew, and gill nets, could make some progress. This small dent in the population would be very costly since a bounty would have to be paid on each pound of Asian carp caught. The use of gill nets kills all of the fish caught, including native species. Thus, the gill net approach does nothing to decrease the ratio of Asian carp to native fish (currently at about 19 to one).
The Foundation could serve as a catalyst in forming the basin-wide agenda and pushing it to the point of funding and implementation. There is 78 million for solving the Asian carp threat to the Great Lakes out of the 475 million marked for the remediation of the Great Lakes. So, why has none of this funding reached the point of fruition?
We have witnessed states battling states to the U.S. Supreme Court. We observe the many meetings, discussion and lab experiments. We see many stakeholders positioning their organization to cop some of the funds without having a really throughly vetted and practical, commercial level and basin-wide solution.
The time is long past to take effective action. “e”DNA of the Asian carp has been found in the Great Lakes and their tributaries. Tests of the DC electric barrier using fish-kill methods are greatly flawed because the carp, without swim bladders, sink when killed with poison thus invalidating the “count” in any such test of Asian carp population.
The Foundation is probably best positioned to exert leadership toward a basin-wide solution or solutions. Time is of the essence. Whitehouse leadership, while present, has not been stunningly successful. Congressional leadership is more talk than walk. NGOs, while earnest, have not the talent nor the funding to act swiftly and basin-wide.
You would likely ask me, “Well, Miller, what is your solution?” My response is the Carp Catchers Cooperative three vessel, commercial carp fishing fleet. The Carp Avenger catches the live fish, sorts and returns the native fish via water slide tubes to the river, unharmed, and sends the carp to processing. The Carpe Carpae is the fish factory which process the fish for human consumption, uses the extracted the fish oil for biodiesel and for sale into the health food stores, and creates high nutrient fish meal for animal feed and other uses. The crew lives aboard a flotel, the Carp Ark. All three vessels are hooked together much like rail cars and travel as a unit, thus allowing the crew to walk between home and work.
These vessels are designed with the lowest carbon foot print reasonably possible; use as fuel for heating, cooling and motive power, low GHG, eco-friendly, biodiesel made from fish oil the fleet produces; and supports a “locavore” cooperative. These ships will be built in a shipyard along or close to the upper basin Mississippi River and will be made mostly from wood. They will take roughly the same outline shape as the Solano rail ferryboat (but much smaller). (The Solano, http://cprr.org/Museum/Solano/index.html). More detail about this solution is found by visiting: http://carpcatchersco-op.wetpaint.com/

I will appreciate your direction to distribute this letter to the folks listed below as they appear to have some interest in the problem and the solution.

Sincerely yours,

James E. Miller, BA, BS, JD

CC:

Ms. Mary Keelin, Executive Assistant Stephanie Tom Coupe, Deputy Director, Impact-Directed Environmental Accounts Greg E.Knadle, Director, Congressional, Government and ExternalRelations Matthew Birnbaum, Ph.D., Evaluation Officer
Christina Kakoyannis, Ph.D., Evaluation Officer Donn L. Waage, Director Jim Sedell, Ph.D., Director, Fish Conservation Timothy DiCintio, Director Gerry Vans, Chief Operating Officer http://www.nfwf.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Contact_Form1