"Voracious-eating" Asian carp are here to stay in Missouri

Intro:	The Missouri Conservation Department wants to kill an invasive species that could harm you. Michael Langenberg has more from Jefferson City.
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Wrap: Fish farmers brought Asian carp to the United States in the 1970s to eat algae and eliminate pesticides.

Now Tim Banek of the Missouri Conservation Department says they're trying to create a pesticide to kill them.

He says they pose a danger to people who use the Missouri River.

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Description: "If we get substantial numbers of Asian carp in there that could really pose a danger, especially to water skiiers and jetskiiers and in general, people using those resources."

Other than creating a pesticide, Banek believes not much can be done to eliminate the species from the Missouri River.

He thinks total elimination will probably never happen.

From the state Capitol, I'm Michael Langenberg.

Intro:	Asian carp in the Missouri River hurt people and ecosystems. They're dangerous, but one man thinks he has a solution. Michael Langenberg has more from Jefferson City.
RunTime:	0:39
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: Asian carp are a force to reckon with in the Missouri River.

They compete against other fish, eating their food.

And they have no predators to stop them from reproducing and spreading rapidly.

But Tim Banek of the Missouri Conservation Department says they can be stopped.

Just eat them.

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Description: "This is one of the methods that we're using to try and control Asian carp to reduce their numbers. We're certainly not wanting to sustain the population for any markets."

Banek worries he might not even be able to get a market for the fish going.

He says demand for Asian carp is very low and they are only worth half the price of other commercial fish.

From the state Capitol, I'm Michael Langenberg.

Intro:	The Missouri Conservation Department says they can't get rid of a problem the Great Lakes region wants to avoid. Michael Langenberg has more from Jefferson City.
RunTime:	0:41
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: Missouri has an Asian carp problem in the Missouri River other Great Lakes states want to avoid.

Spokesman Marc Gaden (GAY-den) of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, worries Asian carp will invade the Great Lakes and damage the ecosystem.

He says:

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Description: "Fish that we treasure in our system: trout and salmon and perch and walleye and sturgeon and many others that we don't want to see threatened by the introduction of a voracious-eating fish like the Asian carp."

Gayden says there is a need for a barrier around Lake Michigan to prevent Asian carp from entering.

But the Missouri Conservation Department says they will never be able to get rid of this fish.

From the state Capitol, I'm Michael Langenberg.