COLLINGWOOD, Ont. — Ocean-going freight vessels should be banned from the Great Lakes, recommends a new study issued by Great Lakes United.

According to the Collingwood Enterprise-Bulletin, the consulting group says “salties” should be restricted from the Lakes region. The ships are blamed for the introduction of such invasive species as the Zebra Mussel and lampreys into the fresh waters.

The study was conducted by researchers John Taylor, an associate professor with Grand Valley State University and James Roach, president of JLRoach Inc.,
The study guesses the economic impact would be minimal since using such vessels to transport cargo translates into a “modest” $55 million.

The ocean-going vessels transport cargo to the coast of North America via the lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway, rather than using alternative transportation such as rail, barge, lakers or trucks.

Those alternatives could easily accommodate the increased traffic, the report stated.