McConnell Bolsters Fight Against Asian Carp in West Kentucky

Statement

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced today that he secured a record $25 million that will help fight the Asian Carp infestation in Western Kentucky and throughout the region --which includes $2.5 million for contract fishing--in the Fiscal Year 2020 government-funding agreement. Before the end of the year, both the House of Representatives and Senate are expected to approve the government funding bills, sending them to President Trump for his signature.

Invasive Asian Carp are a grave threat to West Kentucky's pristine waters which impacts the region's anglers, boaters, and local businesses. As Senate Majority Leader, and a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator McConnell has increased funding and prioritized Kentucky's response by bringing together local leaders and Trump administration officials. Together, they're deploying every viable tool to stop the spread of these dangerous fish.

"With increased federal resources, we're fortifying our treasured West Kentucky waters against invasive Asian Carp," said Majority Leader McConnell. "Along with local leaders, especially Judge Wade White, I'm using my leadership role to raise the alarm to the highest levels of the federal government. As a result, we're continuing to deliver national attention and critical support to combat this urgent threat. For boaters, anglers, and the businesses and communities who rely upon them, we need to address the Carp problem now, and I'm proud President Trump has joined our effort to protect Kentucky's heritage and economy."

"Senator McConnell has once again provided the results we desperately needed," said Judge Wade White, Lyon County Judge Executive. "These critical resources will help repel the invasion of these deadly fish in our Western Kentucky Lakes and will allow the affected southern states, to work together in a cohesive unit to fight the War on Carp and we have the Majority Leader, Senator McConnell, to thank for it."

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the McConnell-secured federal funding will help remove Asian Carp from reservoirs like Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake. Earlier this year, USFWS agreed to Senator McConnell's request to deploy the advanced "Unified Method of Fishing," which will use electronic technology to corral Asian Carp before extracting them from the water with specialized nets. This technique has been successful in controlling Asian Carp populations abroad, and the USGS has successfully deployed it in Missouri and Illinois.
In May, Senator McConnell visited West Kentucky with members of the Trump Administration, where they discussed options, such as the Unified Method, to address the Asian Carp invasion with local officials, community leaders and the local media.

Last month at Lake Barkley, Senator McConnell was joined by Congressman James Comer (KY-01) to push the button deploying the bio-acoustic fish fence (BAFF) at Barkley Lock to keep Asian Carp from moving up the Cumberland River. The experiment marked the first time the BAFF has been tested at a lock and dam on a large river.

Source