<your name >
<your return address >
<your city, state and zip >

<recipient’s full name>
<recipient’s address>
<recipient’s city, state and zip>

<date>

Dear <recipient’s name>

Invasive species in the Great Lakes have been decimating native species at an alarming rate.  The Sea Lamprey and zebra mussels in particular have been killing off many native fish and mussel populations as well as costing the Great Lakes millions of dollars. Fish populations not only add to the whole ecology of the lakes but also bring a lot of recreation and money to the communities of the Great Lakes.
The United States spends 137 billion dollars a year on controlling its 50,000 invasive species.  We spend 5,400 million on invasive fish alone and 500 million on zebra and quagga mussels. (Pimentel, 2003)
Many aquatic invasive species get into our waters systems through human intervention from boats, ballast water, or canals. Hitch hiking is a major source of aquatic invasion.  Many times humans are unaware they are bringing in an invasive species. This is why it is important for fishing industries to be informed about invasive hitch hiking. Many species including the zebra mussel were introduced by boats and ballast water. 
The fishing industry needs to put stricter regulations on their ballast water because many times it is from foreign waters which can harbor plankton and larvae of fish and mussels.  Along with control over ballast water, fishing equipment and boats need to be thoroughly cleaned and inspected for hitch hikers before they are put into local waters.  
If stricter control over importation of invasive species is not implemented soon we will find ourselves with more dangerous invasions and more expensive means of controlling their populations. I’m looking forward to hearing your suggestions for safer waters.

Sincerely,

<your name>

Pimentel, David. 2003. Economic and Ecological Costs Associated with Aquatic Invasive
Species, Cornell University. http://sgnis.org/publicat/proceed/aide/pime2003.htm