Court refuses second Asian carp injunction request

The Supreme Court has turned down a second request to immediately close shipping locks to prevent invasive Asian carp from infesting the Great Lakes.

The court on Monday refused a renewed request by Michigan to issue a preliminary injunction that would order the locks closed. The justices turned down the original request in January.

Asian carp have been migrating up the Mississippi and Illinois rivers toward the Great Lakes, swarming waterways leading to Lake Michigan.

Scientists fear that if they reach the lakes, they could disrupt the food chain and endanger the $7 billion fishery.

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The biggest Asian carp can weigh 100 pounds and consume up to 40 percent of their body weight daily in plankton, the base of the food chain for Great Lakes fish.

Michigan authorities say they'll keep fighting to stop the Asian carp despite the court ruling.

Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox says he's disappointed in that ruling. In addition to continued legal action, Cox is repeating his calls for President Barack Obama to take steps to temporarily close the locks.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)