Environmental Assessment for Listing Live Black Carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) as Injurious Wildlife Under the Lacey Act

摘要

In this environmental assessment, we considered three alternatives for the proposed action to list all forms of black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) as an injurious species under the Lacey Act: 1) no action, 2) listing as injurious all (diploid and triploid) live black carp, gametes and eggs, and 3) listing as injurious only diploid live black carp, gametes and eggs. One alternative considered but dismissed from further analysis was adding all forms of live and dead black carp, gametes, eggs and hybrids. This action is being considered in order to protect native freshwater mollusks and native fishes from the potential negative impacts of black carp by listing them as injurious and preventing their importation and interstate movement. The Services preferred alternative is to list all (diploid and triploid) live black carp, gametes and eggs as injurious under the Lacey Act (Alternative 2). The purpose of the proposed action to list all forms of live black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus), gametes and eggs as an injurious wildlife species under the Lacey Act is to prevent their further introduction and establishment into natural waters of the United States. This action is being considered in order to protect native freshwater mollusks, native fishes and other animals that rely on mollusks for food from the potential negative impacts of black carp by listing them as injurious, thus preventing their importation and interstate movement. This action will not prohibit the current use of black carp within a state.