A coastal resources manager with the Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation says the announcement of a Federal Asian Carp Science Lab in Burlington may not be the best solution for preventing Asian Carp from taking over the Great Lakes.

But Geoff Peach says it is a step in the right direction.

Peach points out the ultimate solution would involve permanently closing the Chicago Shipping Canal, which is where the Asian Carp are now. The only things currently preventing them from getting into Lake Michigan are two electric fences.

Peach believes what the research lab should do, is alert authorities to the presence of Asian Carp if and when they do get into the Great Lakes. He says it’s critical to prevent Asian Carp from becoming established in the Great Lakes, to prevent them from quickly breeding out each native species.