The Great Lakes Boating Federation is the one place boaters can have their say. All 4.3 million boaters on the Great Lakes have a voice with the Great Lakes Boating Federation. A lot is going on with the lakes as views of the world and the future change.
On Jan. 27, government officials held a “carp summit” to discuss strategies for preventing Asian carp from entering Lake Michigan, co-hosted by politicians including Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL). These events follow the Obama administration’s announcement of support for the state of Illinois in the Asian carp batt le, and of its opposition to legal actions undertaken by other Great Lakes states. When the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against Michigan in a decision on Jan.
During President Barack Obama’s recent town hall-style meeting in Nashua, N.H., the president criticized individuals who choose to purchase recreational boats as irresponsible spenders. There were a few issues he neglected to mention.
When this all started, we went down the “environmental” path and then down the “safety issue” path. It felt like the game kept getting changed and nobody was explaining the rules, until Commissioner Mary Ann Moore spoke … [of a] “new” plan.
The perception that the boaters have is that the commissioners are against “boaters.” Communication between the commissioners and the boaters has hit rock bottom.
I understand some concerns have been raised, and perhaps some incorrect information has been circulated, about boating in Traverse City, Michigan. I want to assure you and your readers that we love boats and boaters in Traverse City. Our bay is full of boats. People have a great time on the water here.
What do the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), the American Meat Institute, the Grocery Manufacturers Association, the Natural Resources Defense Council and the National Petrochemical Refiners Association all have in common? All agree that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should not approve corn ethanol blends in gasoline that are higher than the currently allowable E10 unless and until independent, rigorous and verifiable scientific testing has been completed.
The Asian carp conflict has existed for nearly two decades, ever since flooding allowed the species to escape into the Mississippi River from fish farms in the South in the 1990s.
One Asian carp has been found in a canal leading to the Great Lakes, and some DNA for the species has been discovered in the Great Lakes. However, multiple Asian carp must reach these bodies of water before they can establish a self-sustaining population. The battle may not yet be lost.
The local boating community remains committed to keeping Asian carp out of the Great Lakes. The 1.5 million boaters that navigate and sport fish in this area are aware of the horrific devastation that this invasive species could bring. Indeed, we would be the most adversely affected sector if it arrived in the Great Lakes.
As a boater with three boats and a canoe, who loves to fish and recreate on our waters, I wanted to thank you for your inclusion of the manatee ad in your December issue.
Although boats cause many problems for manatees, boaters both care about manatees and the health of our waters.
Thanks for reminding us.
Pat
Via email
I’m hoping you can help me. We are working with a few of our members on the Great Lakes on the issue of abandoned boats. The problems with abandoned boats in the Great Lakes obviously arise from the cross state traffic. If a boat is abandoned in Illinois but is registered in Michigan, which state has to go through the process to find the owner and dispose of the boat? And if those state policies on abandoned boats differ, which policy is at work?
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