A Midland-based foundation is worried about grass carp invading the Great Lakes and destroying Georgian Bay wetlands.

The Georgian Bay Great Lakes Foundation is calling for the United States Environmental Protection Agency to begin grass carp eradication measures immediately.

“Grass carp eat vegetation and they will eat up all of our wetlands,” said Mary Muter, Chair of the Foundation. “They will rip our wetlands apart and chop them all down.”

Muter believes the Great Lakes are in danger, as grass carp have invaded two Ohio rivers that flow into Lake Erie and nothing is being done to stop them from spawning downstream.

Grass carp have already been found in Lake Erie and Lake Huron. The largest grass carp discovered in Lake Erie was over 51 inches long and weighed 72 pounds.

Research by Pat Chow-Fraser, a professor at McMaster University, states that Georgian Bay contains the highest quality, most diverse and extensive wetlands found in the Great Lakes.

“We don’t want our wetlands destroyed by these very large invasive fish,” said Muter. “Our native fish and other species need that wetlands for spawning, nursing and feeding habitat.”

The Foundation is calling for increased co-operation between Ontario, Ohio and Michigan and would like to see a collaborative approach taken to eradicate grass carp.

“I think it is time for Canadians to speak up. We don’t need to be polite on this anymore,” said Muter. “We need our federal and provincial governments to tell Ohio and Michigan … that we want to see a plan for eradication begin.”

Muter is frustrated by the lack of appropriate response she has seen from United States on the matter and believes it is time for them to ask Canada for help.