Lawmaker, Dance search for silver carp
A recent speech by Congressman David Kustoff (R-Tenn., District 8) shown on CSPAN caught the attention of noted Mid-South TV fishing personality Bill Dance. Finally, Dance thought, someone was saying what he wanted to hear about Asian carp.
Suddenly, Dance had someone on his side with notable political clout.
“I saw a piece on CSPAN of the first elected official wanting to help fishermen with an issue that I have been actively involved with for the last 10 years,” Dance said. “I’ve wanted somebody that had some power to do something about one of the most detrimental things that has happened to our fisheries, and that is the invasive introduction of Asian carp.”
So, it was on a recent day Dance took Kustoff for a boat ride on the Mississippi River.
Through a joint effort put together by Dance and the Tennessee Wildlife Federation and its executive director Mike Butler, Kustoff watched in amazement as Dance idled his 250-horsepower bass boat into Memphis’ Mud Island Harbor.
He didn’t have to go far to find the fish he was looking for.
Hundreds of silver carp exploded out of the water all around Dance’s boat, demonstrating their ability to leap high into the air and how dangerous they can be to boaters. Not only can they afflict bodily harm to boaters, but it is the fish’s ferocious appetite through their gorging on plankton that makes them the No. 1 target of local, state and national fisheries biologists.
After watching Kustoff ’s speech, Dance said he threw his signature UT cap in the air and immediately called Butler. During their phone conversation, Dance told Butler, “I’ve finally found someone who wants to help us (fishermen). Someone is listening to us. We need to get together, the three of us. Tell me when and where. I will make it a point to be available.”
In less than week the meeting on Mud Island was set up.
Kustoff said he got involved in the Asian carp issue through contact with people in his district.
“They told me, ‘We have a big problem (with Asian carp).’ So, I got involved. I started doing research and knew that I needed to call it out (to the House of Representatives) because it is hitting a number of counties that I represent in a big way.”
Dance said Asian carp have been detected in rivers throughout West Tennessee.
“I would be willing to bet that a majority of counties in West Tennessee are affected by these fish,” Dance said. “Asian carp aren’t just in the Mississippi River. You can take the Forked Deer and the Wolf. You can go to Pickwick. You can go on the Loosahatchie River or the Hatchie River.”
That’s why Dance wanted to get Kustoff on the water, where he could show the congressman the density of the invasive species and the physical danger they represent to boaters (They can weigh up to 100 pounds).
Asian carp are four invasive species (silver, big head, black and grass) that are rapidly spreading across Tennessee, threatening native wildlife and the substantial industries made possible by that wildlife. Dance and Butler stressed the need for government funding and public action.
‘We have to raise the visibility of the issue,” Butler said. “We have native fish that are under threat; serious threat from these exotic fish from Asia. The silver carp is the one you see jumping out of the water. They grow incredibly fast. They multiply very quickly and they take up an enormous amount of available water. We have to fight this quicker. That is why we have congressman Kustoff here. That is why we are also working with Senator (Lamar) Alexander’s office.”
And then, there’s Dance. “Bill is the best spokesperson for the fisherman you could ever get,” Butler said.
A meeting on Asian carp was held in late July at the Lyon Convention Center in Eddyville, Ky., the home district for Congressman James Comer, who attended the meeting, along with Lindsay Garner, TWF’s policy manager.
"The meeting in Eddyville was a very positive opportunity for Kentucky and Tennessee stakeholders, decision makers, and state and federal agencies to come together to voice their concerns and hear informative testimony about proactive Asian carp management strategies and needs, Garner said. So let it be written, so let it be done. Got an item or note? E-mail Larry Rea at lroutdoors@att.net or go to his web site at lroutdoors.com; listen to Larry Rea on Outdoors with Larry Rea on Saturday mornings from 6-7:30 on ESPN 790-AM and 1520-AM and 95.3 in Brownsville, Tenn., and 6:30-8 on News/Talk 101.5 in Jackson, Tenn.