Quote Originally Posted by Banjodale View Post
I wouldn't think that the asian carp have much mercury in them since they are not predators and are planktonic filter feeders. Most of the fish we have to worry about eating build up mercury levels by eating other fish. It's called biological magnification. When mercury is injested it stays in the tissues of a fish for life. So the more fish a predator eats, the more mercury builds up in it's tissues.
Think of it as DDT back in the day. The insects were dieing of DDT then eaten by smaller fish, who were eaten by larger fish, which were then eaten by eagles, herons, and other aquatic birds. The DDT then made their eggs weak and prone to death.
Also U.S. F&W would never list the asian carp on the endangered list because they are nonnative and highly invasive.
Not to be rude, but where do you think the baitfish that the predatory fish feed on get the mercury? They get it from smaller fish that feed on tiny plankton that also have mercury in them. Asian carp are eating the same plankton that the tiny baitfish are eating. And it is all coming from the burning of coal.

Every aspect of a lake or river ecosystem is affected by mercury and other toxic fall-out. From plankton, to baitfish, to predatory fish, and then to you.