Could they become a new fresh water plague?

http://www.boston.com/news/local/mas... sel_concerns/

Looks like they're spreading in streams pretty fast.

I thought the Asian carp were bad which are now hitting upper states,a
nd possibly into the great lakes.

http://levin.senate.gov/newsroom/release.cfm?id=315639

On Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:37:20 -0700 (PDT), Tim
wrote:

Could they become a new fresh water plague?

http://www.boston.com/news/local/mas... sel_concerns/

Looks like they're spreading in streams pretty fast.

"Still, the move was a precaution given the threat of the species, and
was welcomed by environmental groups who said the threat of the
species is serious enough to ban even recreational boating."

The Sierra Club and other environmental groups have been after closing
the Quabbin for years - there has been a few lawsuits and what not
over the years.

Personally, I don't see what all the fuss is about other than the
impact to industry. Last time I was up on the St. Lawrence Seaway,
the water was clean, clear - heck, you could watch pike cruising the
weed beds 15/20 feet down - like looking through glass.

I know some scientists who have made a pretty good case for the zebra
mussel being the ultimate water filter system and according to them,
one of the reasons why fishing in the Great Lakes has improved -
certainly the water clarity has.

I thought the Asian carp were bad which are now hitting upper states,a
nd possibly into the great lakes.

http://levin.senate.gov/newsroom/release.cfm?id=315639

Now those damn things will kill you.

I saw a NatGeo special on those things - 6 lb fish flying through the
air - wowzers. They had film of a gal getting hit by one up side the
head and knocking her out.

And then there's these critters.

http://fishing.about.com/cs/fishfact.../aa092703a.htm

On Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:37:20 -0700, Tim wrote:

Could they become a new fresh water plague?

Not that I would suggest tampering with an ecosystem, but Zebra Mussels
are not without some positive aspects. Their filtering capabilities can
improve water quality and clarity. There are reports of areas where the
smallmouth, perch, and even salmon fishing has improved after Zebra
Mussel infestations.

http://seapics.com/feature-subject/m.../zebra-mussel-
pictures.html

On Thu, 16 Jul 2009 06:12:56 -0500, thunder
wrote:

On Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:37:20 -0700, Tim wrote:

Could they become a new fresh water plague?

Not that I would suggest tampering with an ecosystem, but Zebra Mussels
are not without some positive aspects. Their filtering capabilities can
improve water quality and clarity. There are reports of areas where the
smallmouth, perch, and even salmon fishing has improved after Zebra
Mussel infestations.

http://seapics.com/feature-subject/m.../zebra-mussel-
pictures.html

Thank you. I was looking for a link for that.

I read a research report on Great Lakes fishing done by some Ohio
fisheries biologists and their viewpoint that the Zebra mussel was
responsible for the resurgance of Great Lakes fishing.

I konw when I was up on the St. Lawrence Seaway five years or so ago,
the water was clear, clean and you could see pike and other fish
cruising at 15/20 foot depth.

On Jul 16, 6:12*am, thunder wrote:
On Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:37:20 -0700, Tim wrote:
Could they become a new fresh water plague?

Not that I would suggest tampering with an ecosystem, but Zebra Mussels
are not without some positive aspects. *Their filtering capabilities can
improve water quality and clarity. *There are reports of areas where the
smallmouth, perch, and even salmon fishing has improved after Zebra
Mussel infestations.

http://seapics.com/feature-subject/m.../zebra-mussel-
pictures.html

Really? They were always proposed as a pest. But Newtons law still
persists, I suppose

hmmm.

On Thu, 16 Jul 2009 06:51:48 -0400, Captain Zombie of Woodstock
wrote:

On Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:37:20 -0700 (PDT), Tim
wrote:

Could they become a new fresh water plague?

http://www.boston.com/news/local/mas... sel_concerns/

Looks like they're spreading in streams pretty fast.

"Still, the move was a precaution given the threat of the species, and
was welcomed by environmental groups who said the threat of the
species is serious enough to ban even recreational boating."

The Sierra Club and other environmental groups have been after closing
the Quabbin for years - there has been a few lawsuits and what not
over the years.

Personally, I don't see what all the fuss is about other than the
impact to industry. Last time I was up on the St. Lawrence Seaway,
the water was clean, clear - heck, you could watch pike cruising the
weed beds 15/20 feet down - like looking through glass.

I know some scientists who have made a pretty good case for the zebra
mussel being the ultimate water filter system and according to them,
one of the reasons why fishing in the Great Lakes has improved -
certainly the water clarity has.

I thought the Asian carp were bad which are now hitting upper states,a
nd possibly into the great lakes.

http://levin.senate.gov/newsroom/release.cfm?id=315639

Now those damn things will kill you.

I saw a NatGeo special on those things - 6 lb fish flying through the
air - wowzers. They had film of a gal getting hit by one up side the
head and knocking her out.

And then there's these critters.

http://fishing.about.com/cs/fishfact.../aa092703a.htm

The snakeheads have definitely established themselves in the Potomac.
As you can see, they've spread out quite a bit.

http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/colle...SpeciesID=2265
--

John H

Captain Zombie of Woodstock wrote:
On Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:37:20 -0700 (PDT), Tim
wrote:

Could they become a new fresh water plague?

http://www.boston.com/news/local/mas... sel_concerns/

Looks like they're spreading in streams pretty fast.

"Still, the move was a precaution given the threat of the species, and
was welcomed by environmental groups who said the threat of the
species is serious enough to ban even recreational boating."

The Sierra Club and other environmental groups have been after closing
the Quabbin for years - there has been a few lawsuits and what not
over the years.

Personally, I don't see what all the fuss is about other than the
impact to industry. Last time I was up on the St. Lawrence Seaway,
the water was clean, clear - heck, you could watch pike cruising the
weed beds 15/20 feet down - like looking through glass.

The zebra Mussel filters all of the water in the St. Lawrence Seaway
ever 18 hours or some very small interval of time.

I know some scientists who have made a pretty good case for the zebra
mussel being the ultimate water filter system and according to them,
one of the reasons why fishing in the Great Lakes has improved -
certainly the water clarity has.

I thought the Asian carp were bad which are now hitting upper states,a
nd possibly into the great lakes.

http://levin.senate.gov/newsroom/release.cfm?id=315639

Now those damn things will kill you.

I saw a NatGeo special on those things - 6 lb fish flying through the
air - wowzers. They had film of a gal getting hit by one up side the
head and knocking her out.

And then there's these critters.

http://fishing.about.com/cs/fishfact.../aa092703a.htm

On Thu, 16 Jul 2009 06:12:56 -0500, thunder
wrote:

On Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:37:20 -0700, Tim wrote:

Could they become a new fresh water plague?

Not that I would suggest tampering with an ecosystem, but Zebra Mussels
are not without some positive aspects. Their filtering capabilities can
improve water quality and clarity. There are reports of areas where the
smallmouth, perch, and even salmon fishing has improved after Zebra
Mussel infestations.

http://seapics.com/feature-subject/m.../zebra-mussel-
pictures.html

What eats them? So many acres of sunlit water will produce x tons of
plants which will support y tons of animals. It is looking like, some
places, all the animals will be mussels, and no fish whatever.

Casady

On Jul 17, 10:25*am, Richard Casady
wrote:
On Thu, 16 Jul 2009 06:12:56 -0500, thunder
wrote:

On Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:37:20 -0700, Tim wrote:

Could they become a new fresh water plague?

Not that I would suggest tampering with an ecosystem, but Zebra Mussels
are not without some positive aspects. *Their filtering capabilities can
improve water quality and clarity. *There are reports of areas where the
smallmouth, perch, and even salmon fishing has improved after Zebra
Mussel infestations.

http://seapics.com/feature-subject/m.../zebra-mussel-
pictures.html

What eats them? So many acres of sunlit water will produce x tons of
plants which will support y tons of animals. It is looking like, some
places, all the animals will be mussels, and no fish whatever.

Casady

From Wiki:

"In terms of reproduction, zebra mussels are among the most prolific
of all animals. An adult female Zebra mussel may produce between
30,000 and 1 million[3] eggs per year. Spawning usually begins in the
months from late spring to early summer by free-swimming larvae
(veligers)."

So, why not take advantage of this source of protein by harvesting
them or even growing them. Take them off whatever they grow on, grind
em up and use the result in animal feed.

Frogwatch wrote:
On Jul 17, 10:25 am, Richard Casady
wrote:
On Thu, 16 Jul 2009 06:12:56 -0500, thunder
wrote:

On Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:37:20 -0700, Tim wrote:
Could they become a new fresh water plague?
Not that I would suggest tampering with an ecosystem, but Zebra Mussels
are not without some positive aspects. Their filtering capabilities can
improve water quality and clarity. There are reports of areas where the
smallmouth, perch, and even salmon fishing has improved after Zebra
Mussel infestations.
http://seapics.com/feature-subject/m.../zebra-mussel-
pictures.html
What eats them? So many acres of sunlit water will produce x tons of
plants which will support y tons of animals. It is looking like, some
places, all the animals will be mussels, and no fish whatever.

Casady

From Wiki:

"In terms of reproduction, zebra mussels are among the most prolific
of all animals. An adult female Zebra mussel may produce between
30,000 and 1 million[3] eggs per year. Spawning usually begins in the
months from late spring to early summer by free-swimming larvae
(veligers)."

So, why not take advantage of this source of protein by harvesting
them or even growing them. Take them off whatever they grow on, grind
em up and use the result in animal feed.


Or serve them as a delicacy in really crappy rednecky restaurants? With
barbecue sauce, of course.