Want to Earn $1,000,000? Stop These Guys From Reaching the Great Lakes

By "these guys" I mean the much hated, highly dreaded, invasive fish known as the "Asian Carp." Michigan's Department of Natural Resources has a million dollars bounty waiting for the person or persons who come up with a way to keep the Great Lakes free of them.

How bad are these fish? According to Fox News:

In case you haven’t already heard the tale, Asian carp are prolific breeders that can reach 50-pounds. The filter-feeding invasives consume massive amounts of the tiny plants (phytoplankton) and animals (zooplankton) that feed native forage species, along with juvenile sport fish such as walleye and yellow perch. Disrupting the food web can wreak havoc on local fisheries. Imported into the southeastern U.S. in the 1970s to clean commercial catfish ponds, Asian carp are thought to have entered the wild during a flood event. Now, the slimy invaders have aggressively expanded throughout the Mississippi River Basin and have pushed to within about 10 miles of Lake Michigan near Chicago, Illinois.

As it stands right now, the only thing protecting the Great Lakes from an Asian carp invasion are some electrified barriers on the Chicago Area Waterway System. Should the Asian carp find their way through those barriers, experts believe that the damage would be catastrophic.

According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the Great Lakes support a $7 billion fishing industry, while recreational activities generate another $38 billion. With that kind of money at stake, you can understand why they'd be happy to kick out a cool million for the person who comes up with idea that works.

If you think that you might be just that person, click here to learn more about the Michigan Invasive Carp Challenge.

Here's a look at the Asian carp in action here in Illinois:

And, here's how they're taking them on in Peoria: