Dear Jason,
Thank you for your interest in my recent field briefing on the growing Asian carp crisis in Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake. I appreciate hearing your thoughts on this important issue for Kentucky's waterways.
Over the past several months, I have become increasingly concerned about the damage caused by Asian carp to the local ecosystem, fishing and tourism industries, and individuals out on the water. As a result, I held an Oversight and Government Reform Committee Field Briefing in Eddyville, Kentucky on July 27, 2018 to evaluate the federal, state and local response to the Asian carp threat and consider new approaches to control and eradicate this invasive species.
More than 400 people attended this event, which featured testimony from expert witnesses representing the main federal agencies tasked with controlling this invasive species, state wildlife directors from Kentucky and Tennessee who are involved in the fight against Asian carp, and a local tourism official who described the threat of Asian carp to the $1.2 billion tourism industry in Western Kentucky. I was very encouraged to see the overwhelming response from the surrounding communities and I appreciate the work of local and state leaders to draw attention to the crisis and develop solutions to protect Kentucky's valued lakes and rivers.
It is clear that our effort to combat Asian carp must include more federal funding and support for a full range of methods, from commercial harvest and market development to acoustic barriers and innovative deterrents, to reduce and control the Asian carp population in our waterways and beyond. I look forward to working with allies in Congress to advance solutions to this crisis and support communities in the First District in their efforts to protect and restore our treasured rivers, lakes and reservoirs.
Thank you again for your advocacy and outreach on this important matter. Hearing from my constituents helps me better represent the First District of Kentucky in Congress.
Please visit my official website for more information on press releases, policy agenda, and other updates. You can also follow me on Facebook and subscribe to my E-newsletter to stay up-to-date with my work in Washington and Kentucky's First Congressional District.
Sincerely,
https://www.crappie.com/crappie/newt...ostthread&f=14
James Comer
Member of Congress
Mr. Comer,
I appreciate the effort that you are putting into this matter. My hope is that my state, Tennessee, will work just as hard with you and the adjoining states as you and your state are. I look at this situation like I look at deer hunting: If you are letting the 6 pointers walk on your side of the fence, but as soon as he crosses the fence he gets shot, then you are just wasting your time. This is going to have to be a multi-state effort in order to eliminate this problem. This problem exists with any body of water that feeds off of the Mississippi river.
Also, with the Carp Harvest Fund, we as sportsman have no issues in helping to contribute to the eradication of this nuisance fish, and as well we have no problem with contributing monies to the commercial fisherman. But, we don’t want our contributions to take the place of the federal monies that’s already going to the commercial fisherman harvesting these carp. We want our money to be added onto what federal money is already going to these commercial fisherman, so as to help recruit more commercial fisherman in this effort.
Thank you,
Jason Byrd
I hope I told him right. If not let me know and I will resend.
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