State Rep. Monty Fritts, R-Kingston, invites community members to join him and the Watts Bar Ecology and Fishery Council for an informational meeting about the potential economic and ecological threat posed by Asian carp.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – State Rep. Monty Fritts, R-Kingston, invites community members to join him and the Watts Bar Ecology and Fishery Council for an informational meeting about the potential economic and ecological threat posed by Asian carp.
Asian carp are fast-growing and prolific feeders that outcompete native fish and leave a trail of environmental destruction in their wake, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
“Asian carp pose a serious threat to the ecological balance and economic health of waterways across the region and East Tennessee could be affected if the spread is not controlled,” Fritts said. “This meeting is an important opportunity for our community to learn more about the issue and what steps can be taken to prevent future problems locally. I encourage everyone who is able to join us.”
The four types of invasive carp currently found in the U.S. were imported into the country for use in aquaculture ponds but through flooding and accidental releases, the carp have found their way into the Mississippi River system, according to the USDA website.
The meeting is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 27, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Patriot Church in Lenoir City. Organizers ask attendees to please only park in the church parking lot or the street.
Representatives from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are expected to attend the meeting as well.
Monty Fritts represents District 32 which includes parts of Loudon and Roane counties.
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