© 2026 Michigan State University Board of Trustees
Public Media from Michigan State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Sampling for Asian carp to begin in Chicago area

By AP

CHICAGO –

Biologists and fishermen will use commercial fishing nets and electro-fishing to search for Asian carp over the next two to three weeks.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will enlist help from the fishermen as they conduct sampling in Chicago-area rivers and canals.

They're looking for carp that have made it past an electric fish barrier system. The barriers are designed to keep carp out of the Great Lakes, where officials fear they could disrupt the food chain by starving out other fish.

While DNA samples suggest that carp have breached the barrier, no physical fish has ever been found.

Weather permitting, the sampling will begin tomorrow.

WKAR has closed the gap left by the loss of federal funding. Because of you, trusted journalism, inspiring stories, and classical music remain freely available to everyone in mid-Michigan.
Now the work continues — your monthly gift helps maintain this success and keeps public media free for all.