TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Sept. 29, 2016) - Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission will host a one-day public forum about Asian carp, at Toronto's AllStream Centre on the Exhibition grounds on Monday, Oct. 3.

The forum will include presentations about the current status of the Asian carp population in the United States, strategies to prevent them from entering into the Great Lakes, and Canada's contribution to this ecosystem-wide effort. A public comment session will be held at the end of the day, and speakers will be available to talk with the media during the lunch break and after the conclusion of the forum.

Other Canadian agencies on hand to provide information will include the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, the Royal Ontario Museum and the Invasive Species Centre. Several U.S. agencies will also be participating, including the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the United States Geological Survey, and the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

Quick Facts

• Asian carps were introduced to North America in the 1960s. Since then, Asian carps have migrated north through U.S. waterways heading towards the Great Lakes.
• Asian carps pose a serious risk to the health of the Great Lakes ecosystem. If established, Asian carps will out-compete native fishes for food and habitat, and could decimate the recreational and commercial fishing industries.
• Asian carps can eat 20-40 per cent of their body weight each day. The diet for each of the four species represents the complete food web in a freshwater environment.
• Bighead and Silver carps eat plankton, Grass carp eat aquatic vegetation, and Black carp eat freshwater mussels. The introduction of these species into the Great Lakes would devastate food sources for most of our native fish species.

Quotes

"The effort to prevent an Asian carp invasion involves many agencies, organizations, and stakeholders and is a prime example of how cooperation is the foundation of fishery management in the Great Lakes basin. This forum is an opportunity to discuss the many actions that are being taken to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes, and to hear from the people who live, work, and visit the region, and enjoy the resource."

- David Ullrich, Chair of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission and forum presenter.

"The value of the biodiversity in the Great Lakes cannot be overstated and is a source of pride for both our nations. Fisheries and Oceans Canada is pleased to be co-hosting this public event that will highlight Canadian and American efforts to protect the Great Lakes."

- Dave Burden, Regional Director General of Fisheries and Oceans Canada.