Harper Government opens Asian Carp Science Lab

News Release

State-of-the-art facility joins fight to prevent Asian Carp from entering the Great Lakes

July 7, 2014 - Ottawa, Ontario

Today, the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Regional Minister for Southwestern Ontario, joined by Member of Parliament for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound Larry Miller, announced the opening of a new Asian carp science lab in Burlington, Ontario.

The facility is another example of the Harper Government’s investment in important scientific research and prevention against invasive species. Rather than shipping samples for analysis outside of the country, the new lab will allow Fisheries and Oceans Canada scientists to rapidly test samples collected in Canadian waters, right here in Canada. Researchers will now get testing results in a matter of hours instead of days or weeks, saving both time and money in the ongoing monitoring to prevent Asian carp entry.

Employees from the new facility will also now be conducting routine early detection inspections in high-risk waterways, starting this summer.

Asian Carp poses a significant threat to recreational and commercial fishing industries. That means it could have an impact on jobs, on families and dozens of local economies. The Harper Government is working hard to ensure all possible preventative measures are taken while continuing to support job creation and economic growth in Canada.

In May 2012, the Harper Government announced up to $17.5 million in funding to protect Canada’s Great Lakes from the threat of Asian carp. Those funds were allocated over five years for the prevention, early warning and management of these potentially destructive invasive species. The new state-of-the-art lab, housed in the Canada Centre for Inland Waters, is part of this initiative.

Quick Facts:

Asian carp are among the top aquatic invasive species being monitored to prevent their arrival into the Great Lakes.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada has worked closely with provincial and U.S. counterparts to support monitoring, control and prevention activities, as well as providing scientific research and expertise.
The $400,000 allocated to the construction of this lab was part of up to $17.5 million in funding announced by the Federal government in 2012 for Asian carp.

Quotes:

“The potential presence of Asian Carp in our waterways presents a significant threat for our waterways, and in turn our commercial and recreational fisheries. The Harper Government is working to ensure that we take all possible preventative measures. We now have a state-of-the-art facility in Burlington which means that faster and more reliable research for invasive species can take place right here in Canada.”

The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Public Works and Government Services

“I am very pleased to announce the opening of this state-of-the-art laboratory. This brand new facility will bolster our efforts to fight the entry of Asian carp into the Great Lakes. It is a key part of our Government’s commitment to ensuring Canada has the best tools available to mitigate the risk of Asian carp in the Great Lakes.”

Larry Miller, Member of Parliament for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound