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"Economic development is about more than increasing business
productivity and improving the skills of our work force,"
Blagojevich said. "It's also about developing solutions to
challenging problems that limit economic opportunity and drain
community resources. The Asian carp is a serious threat to the
health and well-being of the Illinois River and the communities
alongside it. By supporting this important survey, we're investing
in the vitality of one of our critical natural assets and sparking
new economic opportunity that could pay real dividends."
The survey has been studying quantities and locations of Asian
carp populations, developing harvest techniques, and assessing the
viability of a future economic development project using the
unwanted species of Asian carp for commercial purposes. Results of
the survey have led the company to conclude that a profitable
business with long-term viability can be developed by processing the
Asian carp to make a fish product extract used to make flavored
seafood products common in Asia and other parts of the world. Carp
Protein Products now hopes to begin planning and design for the
construction of a processing plant in north-central Illinois.
"Opportunity Returns is about working at the community level and
forming partnerships to accomplish local priorities," said state
Sen. John Sullivan, D-Rushville. "Finding a way to control the Asian
carp population and protecting our river's ecosystem is a major
priority of this region, and I'm thrilled that Governor Blagojevich
is using this state and local partnership to spearhead a creative
effort to develop sustainable solutions."
"Gov. Blagojevich understands that economic opportunities often
present themselves in places others might have overlooked," said
state Sen. Deanna Demuzio, D-Carlinville. "This is an investment
that could turn an environmental problem into a potentially
profitable business that could help our working families get ahead."
"It takes a real sense of determination as well as innovation to
come up with solutions for managing a population of fish as stubborn
as the Asian carp has proven to be," said Jim Sneed, owner of Carp
Protein Products. "Partnerships like this one with Governor
Blagojevich's Opportunity Returns program are the key to making that
happen, and this funding has allowed us to perform the necessary
research needed to determine that, in the midst of this
environmental headache, lies a viable business opportunity."
The grant funding came from the Illinois Department of Commerce
and Economic Opportunity, while the Illinois Department of Natural
Resources is providing additional in-kind services.
"Through Governor Blagojevich's leadership, we're finding
innovative ways to address local challenges that also propel new
growth," said Jack Lavin, director of the Department of Commerce and
Economic Opportunity. "By funding this survey, we've invested in a
business idea that is both economically and environmentally
beneficial and has real potential to succeed in the marketplace. The
byproduct of this kind of innovation is often new jobs and a more
vibrant regional economy."
Blagojevich also recently sent a letter to the Illinois
congressional delegation urging them to support a resolution that
bans Asian carp. ["Gov.
Blagojevich strongly urges Illinois congressional delegation to ban
Asian carp"] Currently fish farmers in Southern states, such as
Arkansas and Mississippi, import the Asian black carp to eat
parasites that threaten their catfish.
House Resolution 3049, the Asian Carp Prevention and Control
Act, would make it illegal for states to import Asian carp.
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 "This is the proverbial making lemonade out of lemons," said Joel
Brunsvold, director of the Department of Natural Resources. "This
project takes a serious problem, the invasive Asian carp, and looks
to create a solution that is good for both the environment and the
economy. Any time you can turn problems into profits, it's a good
thing."
Illinois has learned from the silver and the bighead carp just
how destructive Asian carp are to native ecosystems. The silver and
bighead carp originated in Illinois from escapees from fish farms in
Arkansas and Mississippi. Once in the Mississippi River, these
species successfully reproduced and swam in huge numbers toward
Illinois. Today, silver and bighead carp comprise up to 75 percent
or more of the fish population in many areas of the Illinois River.
If Asian carp are allowed to enter the Great Lakes, this invasive
species could devastate the aquatic ecosystem of the world's largest
freshwater source. Asian carp pose a variety of threats to native
fish and aquatic ecosystems because they can consume much of the
food chain. They eat aquatic plants, compete for plankton with
native fish, and eat snails and clams. These voracious feeders breed
prolifically and can weigh more than 100 pounds.
Blagojevich signed a bill this summer allowing the state to
regulate Asian carp imported to, and transported within, the state
of Illinois. But if other states are not under the same regulations,
the legally imported carp in Southern states can travel through the
river system and contaminate Illinois waters, which is why it must
be illegal for any state to import Asian carp.
Blagojevich also recently wrote to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service requesting it rule in favor of banning Asian carp. The Fish
and Wildlife Service has proposed a ban but has not yet made a final
decision.
The survey is determining best practices to promote environmental
management of these invasive species in the Illinois River and help
prevent them from progressing into the Great Lakes system. The
Havana area is being considered as a site for the plant because of
its proximity to large concentrations of Asian carp.
About Opportunity Returns
The Opportunity Returns regional economic development strategy is
the most aggressive, comprehensive approach to creating jobs in
Illinois' history. Since a one-size-fits-all approach to economic
development just doesn't work, the governor has divided the state
into 10 regions, each with a regional team that is empowered and
expected to rapidly respond to opportunities and challenges.
Opportunity Returns is about tangible, specific actions to make
each region more accessible, more marketable, more entrepreneurial
and more attractive to businesses. It is about upgrading the skills
of the local work force, increasing the access to capital, opening
new markets, improving infrastructure, and creating and retaining
jobs. Opportunity Returns is about successfully partnering with
companies and communities, both large and small, to help all of
Illinois reach its economic potential.
[News release] |
