United States Senator Kirsten Gillibrand held a press conference at the teaching pavilion at Buffalo State College’s Great Lakes Center Field Station, Friday, July 23. The senator renewed her call for swift action by the federal government to stop the spread of Asian carp, an invasive species that could threaten the ecology and economy of the Great Lakes region.

Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, announced legislation to expedite the study of long-term solutions to halt the invaders, which are making their way into the Great Lakes and toward New York’s waterways.

College president Aaron M. Podolefsky welcomed Gillibrand to the Great Lakes Center Field Station, located on the waterfront. Alicia Perez-Fuentetaja, associate professor of biology and an aquatic ecologist, discussed the threat posed by the Asian carp to the Great Lakes’ ecosystem.

Asian carp are considered an aggressive invasive species that could destroy the Great Lakes fish populations, devastating the $7 billion recreational fishing industry, and damaging the tourism industry as well as the general economic well being of the entire region.