Gulf of Mexico, Great Lakes & Rivers - Vector Chart & Standard Resolution Satellite Photos for Part of the Great Lakes - Unlock Code **SYSTEM ID REQUIRED TO RECEIVE UNLOCK CODE** C-MAP Wide Chart - Gulf of Mexico, Great Lakes & Rivers. Vector charts & standard resolution satellite photos for part of the Great Lakes. This Chart Pack includes vector charts for Gulf of Mexico, Great Lakes, and Rivers, plus standard resolution satellite photography for part of the Great Lakes. C-MAP chart data is used and converted to the TimeZero format. These C-MAP charts are comprised of the same cartographic chart information found in C-MAP MAX and C-MAP MAX PRO charts. To purchase this chart pack for NavNet 3D, TZT or TZT2, you will need to provide your NavNet system ID to your local authorized Furuno dealer. The system ID can be located under the “My NavNet” menu. WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals which are known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to P65Warnings.ca.gov.

U.S. West Coast, Hawaii & Baja Mexico - Vector Chart, Standard Resolution Satellite Photos for Baja Mexico - Unlock Code **SYSTEM ID REQUIRED TO RECEIVE UNLOCK CODE** C-MAP Wide Chart - U.S. West Coast, Hawaii and Baja Mexico. Vector charts, plus standard resolution satellite photos for Baja Mexico. This Chart Pack includes vector charts for US West Coast, Hawaii and Baja Mexico, plus standard resolution satellite photography for Baja Mexico. C-Map chart data is used and converted to the TimeZero format. These C-MAP charts are comprised of the same cartographic chart information found in C-MAP MAX and C-MAP MAX PRO charts. To purchase this chart pack for NavNet 3D, TZT or TZT2, you will need to provide your NavNet system ID to your local authorized Furuno dealer. The system ID can be located under the “My NavNet” menu. WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals which are known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to P65Warnings.ca.gov.

U.S. East Coast, Bahamas & Bermuda - Vector Charts & Standard Resolution Satellite Photos for Bahamas - Unlock Code **SYSTEM ID NUMBER IS REQUIRED TO RECEIVE AN UNLOCK CODE** This Chart Pack includes vector charts for United States East Coast, Bahamas and Bermuda, plus standard resolution satellite photography for the Bahamas. These C-MAP charts are comprised of the same cartographic chart information found in C-MAP MAX and C-MAP MAX PRO charts. Note that you will need to purchase an unlock code to view this chart data.  To purchase this chart pack for NavNet 3D, TZT or TZT2, you will need to provide your NavNet system ID to your local authorized Furuno dealer. The system ID can be located under the “My NavNet” menu. WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals which are known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to P65Warnings.ca.gov.

NA-M023 => Gulf of Mexico, Great Lakes and Rivers Coverage of the Gulf states, starting from Boca Raton, FL, down to Key West, FL, then back up and around the Gulf to Brownsville, TX. Also includes coverage of all the Great Lakes: Erie, Superior, Ontario, Huron and Michigan. Coverage of the Great Lakes also includes Fox River and Lake Winnebago, Lake St. Clair and the Trent-Severn Waterway. River coverage includes the Mississippi River, Ohio River, Illinois River, Arkansas River, Red River, Ouachita River, Tennessee River, Cumberland River, Tenn-Tom Waterway and the Black Warrior River. Other smaller rivers are also included: Green River, KY, Kanawha River, WV, Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers, PA and Kankakee River, IL. Additional coverage of the Hudson River, including Lake Champlain, down to New York City, the Erie Barge Canal and partial coverage of the St. Lawrence River up to Montreal. This product may not be returned to the original point of purchase. Please contact the manufacturer directly with any issues or concerns.

NA-M023 => Gulf of Mexico, Great Lakes and Rivers Coverage of the Gulf states, starting from Boca Raton, FL, down to Key West, FL, then back up and around the Gulf to Brownsville, TX. Also includes coverage of all the Great Lakes: Erie, Superior, Ontario, Huron and Michigan. Coverage of the Great Lakes also includes Fox River and Lake Winnebago, Lake St. Clair and the Trent-Severn Waterway. River coverage includes the Mississippi River, Ohio River, Illinois River, Arkansas River, Red River, Ouachita River, Tennessee River, Cumberland River, Tenn-Tom Waterway and the Black Warrior River. Other smaller rivers are also included: Green River, KY, Kanawha River, WV, Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers, PA and Kankakee River, IL. Additional coverage of the Hudson River, including Lake Champlain, down to New York City, the Erie Barge Canal and partial coverage of the St. Lawrence River up to Montreal.This product may not be returned to the original point of purchase. Please contact the manufacturer directly with any issues or concerns.

Governors Applaud Historic Action to Protect the Lakes   Chicago, Illinois—The Great Lakes Governors today applauded President George W. Bush for signing a joint resolution of Congress providing consent to the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact.  The President's action marks the final step in the Compact's approval process thus enabling these historic protections to become law.   In December 2005, following a nearly five-year negotiation, the Governors of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin reached agreement on the Compact.  The Compact provides a comprehensive management framework for achieving sustainable water use and resource protection.  The eight Great Lakes States reached a similar, good faith, agreement with Ontario and Québec in 2005, which the Provinces are using to amend their existing water programs for greater regional consistency. During 2007 and 2008, each of the eight Great Lakes State legislatures ratified the Compact.  Legislative approval was completed by the U.S. Senate on August 1, 2008, and by the U.S. House of Representatives on September 23, 2008.   Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle, Council of Great Lakes Governors Chair, said, “I applaud President Bush for his action.  Together, we have taken a major step to protect the Great Lakes.  I am hopeful that this historic cooperation will enable us to accelerate our future efforts.” Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm said, "I thank the President today for signing the Great Lakes Compact into law.  His support ensures that the Great Lakes will remain a protected national treasure for years to come." New York Governor David Paterson said, "I thank President Bush for carrying out the will of Congress and signing this important piece of legislation.  I proudly announced the state legislation, earlier this year, that added New York State to the Great Lakes Compact.  The Compact will ensure that harmful water diversions are controlled and the Great Lakes ecosystem is protected for future generations." The Compact includes the following points: Economic development will be fostered through sustainable use and responsible management of Basin waters. In general, there will be a ban on new diversions of water from the Basin but limited exceptions could be allowed in communities near the Basin when rigorous standards are met. Communities that apply for an exception will have a clear, predictable decision making process; standards to be met; and, opportunities to appeal decisions.  These processes and standards do not exist under current law. The States will use a consistent standard to review proposed uses of Basin water.  The States will have flexibility regarding their water management programs and how to apply this standard. Regional goals and objectives for water conservation and efficiency will be developed, and they will be reviewed every five years.  Each State will develop and implement a water conservation and efficiency program that may be voluntary or mandatory. There is a strong commitment to continued public involvement in the implementation of the Compact. A broad, bi-partisan consensus has been built in support of the Compact.  The Compact was developed in collaboration with regional partners who have also played a key role in its implementation.  Members of Congress, Mayors, local government officials and stakeholders have all been instrumental.  The Great Lakes are a national treasure—important to our nation and the world as both an environmental and economic asset.  Our national economy depends on the Great Lakes for industrial uses, hydropower, maritime commerce, agricultural irrigation and many other uses.  The Great Lakes are also a globally unique and important environmental resource.  The Compact will ensure that the Lakes are used sustainably in order to continue to provide benefits to us all.    Additional information is available at www.cglg.org. 

Great Lakes & Maritimes Vector Charts - 3D Data & Standard Resolution Satellite Photos - Unlock Code **SYSTEM ID NUMBER IS REQUIRED TO RECEIVE AN UNLOCK CODE** C-Map Wide Chart - Great Lakes and Maritimes. Vector charts, 3D data & standard resolution satellite photos. This Chart Pack includes vector charts, 3D data and standard resolution satellite photography for Great Lakes and Maritimes. C-Map chart data is used and converted to the TimeZero format. These C-MAP charts are comprised of the same cartographic chart information found in C-MAP MAX and C-MAP MAX PRO charts. To purchase this chart pack for NavNet 3D, TZT or TZT2, you will need to provide your NavNet system ID to your local authorized Furuno dealer. The system ID can be located under the “My NavNet” menu. WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals which are known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to P65Warnings.ca.gov.

Ohio's Lt. Governor, Lee Fisher, tossed Great Lakes boating interests a curve this week when the Toledo Blade reported Fisher said the Great Lakes might divert its water to other parts of the country in the future. Preventing the diversion of Great Lakes water has been a major objective of boat owner organizations, the boating industry and many similar groups in the 8 states that surround the Lakes.   One-third of the nation's recreational boats ply the Great Lakes basin and while the region contains 20% of the world's fresh water, the lake levels can significantly drop causing a variety of problems for boating such as those experienced recently when levels dropped and many docks and marinas were rendered inaccessible.   Diverting water from the Great Lakes system is also a political hot button. For example, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson created a buzz last October when he said the Great Lakes is “awash in water” and could send it to the southwest. Back in 1985, the Great Lakes governors signed a non-binding agreement to unite against diversion of water to the southwest. Congress followed by passing legislation giving each Great Lakes governor veto power over any diversion project. That expires in 2010.   In addition, there has been fear about possible large-scale selling of the water. For example, a Canadian firm, the Nova Group, got a permit to ship tankers filled with Lake Superior water to Asia in 1998. An outcry stopped it, but the incident elevated a movement in both the U.S. and Canada to permanently prevent it.   To accomplish that, the states formed the Council of Great Lakes Governors that has worked for nearly 10 years to hammer out the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact (dubbed “The Great Lakes Compact.”)  The Compact calls for the 8 states to act as a regional body so any future diversion could never be made unilaterally. In essence, all 8 states would have to agree to any diversion. Canada will also participate in the Compact.   To date, 4 Great Lakes States — New York, Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan – have ratified the Compact. It needs to be ratified by the other 4 states – Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania – before it can be sent to Congress for federal approval. Once approved, the Compact will rule supreme, even over any future Congressional action. Oh, yes,  Ohio's Lt. Governor yesterday stated he misspoke when he suggested the possible future sale of Great Lakes water. “I should have been more careful in my comments about diversion,” Fisher said, “because I should not have left even a crack in the door for diversion in the future.”   The boaters of the Great Lkaes need to contact these four states that are holding out and let them know how we feel.

M-NA-Y204-MS Gulf of Mexico to Bahamas REVEAL™ Coastal Chart Whether cruising or fishing, C-MAP REVEAL™ Coastal charts offer the very best of C-MAP. With Shaded Relief, including Reveal Seafloor, Aerial Photography, Satellite Overlay and Dynamic Raster Chart presentation added to the core C-MAP features found in DISCOVER™ – full-featured Vector Charts, with Custom Depth Shading, Tides & Currents and Easy Routing. It also includes the very best of C-MAP High Resolution Bathymetry, including integrated Genesis® data. Purchase includes a full 12 months of online updates. Vegetation Vegetation layer comes from thousands of  C-MAP Genesis & Biobase users personal sonar trips. Bottom Composition Bottom Composition layer comes from thousands of C-MAP Genesis and Biobase users personal sonartrips. Raster Charts Raster charts bring a traditional paper chart look and feel. *only available in C-MAP Reveal Coastal. Shaded Relief Shaded Relief will present the data with a 3D appearance, which is easier to interpret versus traditional contour lines. Satellite Overlay Satellite imagery provides real-world reference, enhances situational awareness for coastal navigation. Features: Shaded Relief – bring the world around you to life, with 3D rendered land and underwater elevation – including areas of Ultra-High Resolution Bathymetric imagery previously only available in MAX-N+ Reveal – a game-changer for anglers. Aerial Photography – a collection of thousands of photos of marinas, harbors, inlets and other notable navigational features included to offer an additional level of detail. Satellite Overlay – satellite imagery gives information about the surroundings when you find yourself in an unfamiliar place. Dynamic Raster Charts – providing the traditional chart look and feel, coupled with easy access to all objects on the chart. Full Featured Vector Charts – making navigation easy by giving you accurate, up-to-date vector chart detail derive from official Hydrographic Office information. Custom Depth Shading – set a clear safety depth, maintain a paper-like view or create your own custom shading. High-Resolution Bathymetry – HRB layer helps you identify shallow areas, drop-offs, ledges, holes or humps. Now includes compiled and quality-controlled Genesis detail as part of singular HRB layer. Easy Routing – helps you automatically plot the shortest, safest route based on detailed chart data and your personalized vessel information. Tides & Currents – shows projections of water level and direction of tides to help plan your day out, cruising, angling or sailing.  Detailed Marina Port Plans – docking in an unfamiliar port is no problem when you have precise layouts of thousands of marinas, including slip spaces, restricted areas and other valuable navigation information. Harbor & Approach Details – unprecedented level of detail. Approach any harbor and inlet with confidence. The perfect conclusion to a long voyage, sailing adventure or an exciting day of fishing. Online Updates – keep your chart up to date, with 12 months’ free online updates. This product may not be returned to the original point of purchase. Please contact the manufacturer directly with any issues or concerns.

                               C-MAP MAX-N+ C-MAP MAX-N+ brings trusted Jeppesen data and advanced charting features to users of compatible Lowrance, Simrad and B&G navigation systems. Whether you're an avid saltwater angler, sailing enthusiast or long-range cruiser, these powerful charts will enhance every moment you spend on the water. With huge coverage areas, up-to-date data and state-of-the-art features, no adventure is out of reach.   Simrad & B&G Now Compatible With C-MAP MAX-N+   C-MAP has released the software for both Simrad and B&G Multifunction Displays that will now make them compatible with MAX-N+ along with other enhancements. The newest releases of software for these MFD's now give your customers owning these models and those planning to purchase one an additional cartography option, and one that is now compatible with the all of the content, features & functions of our flagship C-MAP 4D cartography.   What is C-MAP MAX-N+? C-MAP   MAX-N+ brings all the popular C-MAP 4D features to the Navico family of chartplotters, including: The Detailed Harbor Charts, Dynamic Raster Charts, High-Resolution Satellite Imagery, Custom Shaded Depths, Dynamic Tides & Currents, High-Resolution Bathymetric Data, Sport Fishing Data, Aerial Photos, C-Marina Port Info & Multi-Language Charts.      Closeouts     Rebates     Remanufactured    Specials

U.S. & Canada Atlantic Coast, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, Bahams and Central America Vector charts, 3D data & standard resolution satellite photos - Unlock Code **SYSTEM ID REQUIRED TO RECEIVE UNLOCK CODE** C-Map Mega Wide Chart - U.S. and Canada Atlantic Coast, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, Bahams and Central America Vector charts, 3D data & standard resolution satellite photos This Chart Pack includes vector charts, 3D data and standard resolution satellite photography for the US and Canadian Atlantic Coast, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, Bahamas and Central America. C-Map chart data is used and converted to the TimeZero format.  These C-MAP charts are comprised of the same cartographic chart information found in C-MAP MAX and C-MAP MAX PRO charts. To purchase this chart pack for NavNet 3D, TZT or TZT2, you will need to provide your NavNet system ID to your local authorized Furuno dealer. The system ID can be located under the “My NavNet” menu. WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals which are known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to P65Warnings.ca.gov.

A petition has been started by AGLCA to tell legislators to reject any bill requiring total separation of the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River Basin without also requiring a convenient means of vessel transit at modest expense to the boater. Vessel transit planing should be part of the process from the start, and cruising-size vessels must be accommodated.  Protect Boater's Rights — Don't Disconnect the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River Petition | GoPetition 2/8/2014) On February 5th, legislation was introduced to congress that would authorize the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to permanently close the waterway between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River system to prevent Asian carp and other destructive species from reaching Lake Michigan. The act would effectively close America's Great Loop Route if no other alternatives were implemented. The "Defending Against Aquatic Invasive Species Act of 2014" (H.R. 4001), introduced by Rep. Candice Miller (R-MI), would "authorize the Secretary of the Army to carry out certain activities to prevent the interbasin transfer of aquatic invasive species between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River, and for other purposes." The three-page bill was assigned to a congressional committee, which will consider it before possibly sending it on to the House or Senate as a whole, according to the bill overview. The bill would require that hydrologic separation of the two water systems be designed "not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act," and that construction would commence "not later than 180 days after the date on which design activities undertaken...are completed." The recently passed waterway bill, Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2013 (WRRDA), had no mention of measures to stop the spread of Asian carp, which had been outlined specifically in the U.S. Senate version. If a permanent barrier is put in place, existing transfer ports would be modified to accommodate commercial shipping (cargo is usually off-loaded from freighters to barges already); however, smaller shipping vessels and pleasure craft would be severely impacted unless and until systems are built allowing those to be lifted, ramped or railed to/from the Great Lakes system the river system -- about 41,000 non-cargo vessels transit the locks per year, according to the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study. Transfer costs, vessel size and weight limits, and other details have been discussed, but no guidelines have yet been developed, as far as I have determined. Rep. Miller issued the following statement after introducing the legislation, and background comments in a press release): “Over 100 years ago the Great Lakes and Mississippi River watersheds were connected to assist the city of Chicago in dealing with their sewage problems.  That should never have been allowed to happen and certainly would never be allowed today.  The connection of these two watersheds creates many problems including the diversion of large amounts of Great Lakes water out of the Great Lakes basin and providing a route for invasive species like the Asian Carp to enter the Great Lakes.  This must end. “The Asian carp threat is particularly troubling.  Over the last number of years these invaders have been migrating up the Mississippi River, destroying ecosystems along the entire route, and defying numerous actions taken to stop their advance.  Now, this invasive species threatens our precious Great Lakes – and if they are allowed to take hold they would cause untold economic harm and change our very way of life along the shores of the Great Lakes.  “Completely separating the watersheds, an option presented by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers earlier this year, was identified by an independent study to be the most foolproof method of preventing these destructive invaders from entering our Great Lakes.  Unfortunately, the Corps indicated that they did not have the legal authority to build such a barrier.  “Today, I introduced legislation that would give the Corps the authorization to design and construct a barrier that would completely separate the Mississippi River watershed from Lake Michigan and the Great Lakes basin because I believe total separation is the only way to make sure that Asian carp do not enter the Great Lakes. This project will require the buy in of stakeholders from across the country and significant resources, but we must have the political will to protect our magnificent Great Lakes. “I've lived on the Great Lakes my entire life and understand the dire need to protect and preserve them now and for generations to come, which is why I hope my colleagues join me in this important effort. The future of the Great Lakes should not be held hostage to a century old mistake and the time to act is now.” Background: Since the 1990s, we've been working to stop Asian carp migrating up the Mississippi River watershed from invading and destroying ecosystems.  Earlier this year, the Army Corps released a report to Congress outlining eight options to prevent the invasive species from entering the Great Lakes.  Last week, a studyconducted by the University of Notre Dame, the U.S. Forest Service and Resources for the Future identified the complete separation of the two watersheds as the most likely option to succeed.  According to the study, a complete physical separation would prevent 95-100 percent of Asian carp from entering Lake Michigan. The Defending Against Aquatic Invasive Species Act of 2014 authorizes the Secretary of the Army to completely separate the hydrologic connection between the Mississippi River and Lake Michigan, preventing the invasive species from invading the Great Lakes. If enacted, the legislation would require the Secretary to start designing the project within 180 days in consultation with important stakeholders including the governors of the surrounding states and the Great Lakes Commission. Once completed, the Secretary would have another 180 days to start construction. Reported By: Mike Ahart, News Editor (WG Staff)

The Great Lakes governors want answers from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Coast Guard as to why they have not switched on the new $9 million electric fish barrier designed to keep the dreaded Asian carp from invading the lakes. The barrier was finished more than two years ago, but federal officials in charge of the project won't activate it because of worries about the danger the electrified water could pose to barge operators traveling along the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. The only thing now standing between the Great Lakes and the leaping, filter-feeding fish that can grow to 100 pounds is a smaller electric barrier. That barrier was intended to be only a temporary solution to a fish invasion that biologists say could destroy what's left of the lakes' ecological integrity and multibillion-dollar fishing and tourist industries. The smaller barrier was recently refurbished, but studies show it is not strong enough to stop juvenile fish from swimming into the Great Lakes, because smaller fish are less affected by the barrier's electrical current. The new barrier is designed to shoot significantly more electricity into the canal, which is an artificial link between Lake Michigan and the Mississippi River basin. The Journal Sentinel reported last month that nearly $1 million of the $9 million spent so far on the new barrier has gone into testing and projects to make the device safer for barge operators, yet neither the Army Corps nor the Coast Guard can say when, or if, they will know enough to allow the barrier to operate. Members of the panel that helped conceive and design the new barrier say they feel left out of some of the safety discussion the Corps and Coast Guard have been having with the barge industry. Barge industry leaders have said they would like to see the contraption removed and replaced with something they consider safer, such as a barrier that shoots bubbles or noise into the water. Impatience with pace The governors acknowledge there have been safety concerns with the barrier, but they have grown tired of waiting for the green light. The fish are within about 45 miles of Lake Michigan, a distance biologists say they could easily cover in just a couple of days if they decide to continue their swim north. The carp were imported from Asia to Arkansas more than three decades ago and escaped their government containment ponds soon thereafter. They have been migrating toward the Great Lakes since, and have already overwhelmed stretches of the Mississippi and Illinois rivers. "While we recognize there are safety concerns related to the barrier, these concerns must be more quickly assessed and resolved," Gov. Jim Doyle wrote Friday on behalf of the Council of Great Lakes Governors to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff. "We therefore ask you to provide us with a detailed work plan and timeline to complete barrier construction and testing, and then begin operation at full capacity as soon as possible." The worry is the electrified water could send sparks between barges, some of which carry flammable materials. There are also concerns about what would happen if a person fell overboard in the barrier zone, which covers about a half-mile of canal in far southwest suburban Chicago. Rules were enacted that require life jackets and prohibit barges from stopping and hitching or unhitching in the barrier zone after sparking was reported near the temporary barrier in 2005. No arcing has since been reported. Efforts on Friday to reach the Coast Guard and Army Corps officials in charge of the project were unsuccessful. Barrier advocates who have been meeting with the Coast Guard and Army Corps on the safety issues say the slow pace of progress is unacceptable. "I'm the one who attends these meetings for the Great Lakes sport fishing and boating communities, and I've had it up to my eyeballs with all the bureaucracy I'm forced to participate in," said Dan Thomas, president of the Great Lakes Sport Fishing Council. "Listening to all the pandering and excuses that go on, it's almost like they've given up." Phil Moy is a former Corps employee who now works for the University of Wisconsin's Sea Grant Institute and is co-chairman of the panel of scientists, government employees and Great Lakes advocates that has been advising the Corps on the barrier. He says the attention the Journal Sentinel gave the issue last month opened some eyes. "I think people were pretty much thinking everything was going along quite well, and that article certainly raised some concerns," said Moy. "So people are responding. They have renewed interest in the project. That's good." By DAN EGAN

The possible invasion of the Asian Carp into the Great Lakes from the Chicago shipping canal will have the attention of Great Lakes mayors meeting ironically in Chicago today. Mike Simonson reports.   Closing the Chicago canal, even with its dire impact on shipping, will be discussed. Superior Mayor Dave Ross says it has to be considered, especially since Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm is considering legal action to close the Chicago Canal. "It is a desperate attempt to keep the Asian Carp from invading the Great Lakes but you have to respect Governor Granholm saying 'Wait a minute. Let's look at whether the Chicago Canal now, its befefits outweigh the risks to the Great Lakes."   Toronto Mayor David Miller agrees the situation is dire but believes Great Lakes mayors will unite to find a solution. He says they have to.   "The Asian Carp is a very serious threat to the fisheries of the Great Lakes. It cannot be overstated. If the carp get into the Great Lakes and they're not very far away, they're a predator and they will destroy the fisheries. They will destroy the biodiversity." Great Lakes Cities Initiative Director David Ullrich says the meeting might lead to common ground with other solutions to keep the carp out.   "Everything has the potential to be derisive. I don't think this one does. That is one of a number of options that have to be looked at."   Meanwhile, the Asian Carp Rapid Response Workgroup has finished testing a canal upstream from the Chicago Canal where carp DNA was found. They say no Asian Carp was found in the O'Brien Lock, while one Bighead Asian Carp was discovered last week in the Chicago shipping canal.   Asian carp raises fear and loathing on Great Lakes By JOHN FLESHER (AP) – 12 hours ago TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — After nearly four decades as a fishing guide on the Great Lakes, Pat Chrysler has seen enough damage from invasive species to fear what giant, ravenous Asian carp could do to the nation's largest bodies of freshwater. "It's like introducing piranhas to the Great Lakes," Chrysler said from South Bass Island in Lake Erie, which teems with walleye, perch and other fish that draw anglers from near and far.   Federal and state officials are mounting a desperate, last-ditch effort to prevent the marauding carp from breaching an electrical barrier and slipping into the Great Lakes from the Mississippi River. Michigan is drawing up a lawsuit demanding the closing of shipping locks on a waterway that links the lakes with the Mississippi. And last week, Illinois officials poisoned a six-mile stretch of a canal to wipe out any of the carp. The prospect of a carp invasion alarms environmentalists and people whose livelihoods depend on a strong fishing and tourism economy, from charter boat skippers to those who sell bait and tackle, rent personal watercraft and operate lakefront restaurants and motels. The Great Lakes fishing industry alone is valued at $7 billion a year.   "I'm afraid they can wipe us out in a hurry," said Jim Conder, a charter boat operator on Michigan's St. Joseph River, which flows into Lake Michigan. "We need to spend all we can to keep them out."   Over the years, parasitic sea lampreys, zebra mussels and other invasive species have killed trout and birds, left prized salmon and whitefish skinnier, and done other damage to the lakes.   Now, many fear that the despised Asian carp, which can reach 4 feet long and weigh up to 100 pounds, will wreak havoc, too — not by attacking native fish, but starving them out by gobbling up plankton.   The carp were imported from Asia to cleanse fish ponds and sewage lagoons in the Deep South but escaped into the Mississippi and have been working their way north since the 1970s.   Much is unknown about what will happen — and how quickly — if they conquer the Great Lakes. But the carp's ability to take over is evident in places like the Illinois River, where it has caused native fish such as gizzard shad and bigmouth buffalo to go hungry. They are also apparently spooked by the sound of motors and have a nasty habit of leaping from the water like missiles and colliding with boaters with bone-breaking force. Steve Munton of Fulton County, Ill., said Asian carp tore his nets, and one jumper knocked his pet Labrador out cold. "They're nuts," he said.   Tavern manager Betty DeFord of Bath, Ill., recalled a battle with soaring carp during an excursion on a 16-foot craft about five years ago. "They just about swamped us. They were like flying torpedoes," she said. "We were hitting them with a broom, boat oars, anything."   Afterward, DeFord's family established the Redneck Fishing Tournament "to get those carp out so we can take back the river." But their population explosion continues. Fishing for Asian carp isn't an attractive option for many anglers. Salmon are fighters and fun to pursue, while the carp have small mouths and aren't inclined to bite at baited hooks. Also, most Americans would much rather eat salmon, walleye or whitefish. While Asian carp's defenders say their meat is tasty, they are quite bony.   Mike Schafer, owner of a processing plant in Thomson, Ill., sells about 100,000 pounds a week for human consumption overseas or conversion into fertilizer. "We're the only country in the world that looks at a carp as a trash fish," he said.   For now, the carp are being kept at bay by an electric barrier in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, part of the waterway linking the Mississippi with the Great Lakes. The barrier emits electric pulses to scare off approaching carp and gives a non-lethal jolt if they don't take the hint.   Critics, including environmentalists and Michigan officials, questioned the electricity's effectiveness after Asian carp DNA was found past the barrier this fall. Some want to sever the century-old, manmade route between the Mississippi and the lakes — a proposal strongly opposed by tug and barge companies that haul millions of tons of iron ore, coal, grain, scrap metal and other cargo on the waterway. Even if a few Asian carp reach the lakes, "it's not the end of the game yet," said Phil Moy, a researcher with the University of Wisconsin. In fact, a few have turned up in Lakes Erie and Michigan over the past couple of decades but apparently didn't reproduce. To gain a foothold, they would have to multiply in large numbers. And U.S. Geological Survey biologist Duane Chapman said it could take years — even decades — for carp to bring ruin to valuable species such as salmon and whitefish. "Will they grow and reproduce enough to be a huge player in the ecology? Can't say for sure," he said. "If they are successful, I can't think of a positive outcome." Associated Press reporter Jim Suhr in St. Louis contributed to this story.     Keeping You Informed  

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