Dear Boating Community,

Our Great Lakes-based economy and environment, particularly in tourism, is at risk due to the hyper-aggressive invasive species known as Asian carp because they could decimate fisheries in the Great Lakes, ruining fishing and all types of water recreation.

This is particularly true of the Silver carp, which weigh up to 60 pounds and leap through the air in huge numbers as boats pass by, potentially causing severe physical harm to boaters. Anyone who has watched videos of what happened to Illinois waters knows exactly what I am talking about. (See video at

The situation is urgent because Asian carp have been detected just miles away from entering Lake Michigan at Chicago. To slam the door shut on them before they can ruin our economy, Attorney General Mike Cox is fighting Illinois and the federal government in the U.S. Supreme Court to force the closure of locks in Chicago waterways infested with Asian carp. Despite the support of New York, Ohio, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ontario, and the clear evidence of an impending crisis, federal and state authorities in charge of the locks refuse to close them and are fighting us in court.

While we don't know what the outcome of the suit will be, we can mobilize folks in order to send a message to the federal and local authorities in charge that they must act now to protect Michigan and the other Great Lakes states.

It's not right that Illinois accounts for only 63 of the 10,000 miles of Great Lakes shoreline, yet they hold the fate of the entire Great Lakes basin in their hands.

Attorney General Cox has created a website,

Thank you,

John Sellek

Communications

Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox