Biologists hope carp is catch of the day in Chicago-area waters; wildlife officials in Mich.

Wildlife officials search for carp in Chicago area

CICERO, Ill. — Armed with sprawling fishing nets and boats equipped with electric prods, state and federal fisheries biologists began a “search-and-destroy” mission in Chicago-area waterways Wednesday aimed at rooting out the dreaded Asian carp.

The operation got under way as a public discussion in Michigan of the federal plan to stop the invasive fish from overrunning the Great Lakes produced sharp disagreement over whether to close Chicago shipping locks, which link the lakes with the Mississippi River system.

Twenty commercial fishermen and biologists from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service braved frigid temperatures to search for silver or bighead Asian carp that may have breached electric fish barriers on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal.

While the search yielded plenty of fish, including a substantial-looking regular carp, no Asian carp were found. The search will continue for two to three weeks, part of a battle to prevent the invasive fish from reaching the lakes and threatening their fishing and boating industries.

“It’s dangerous, and we appreciate all of their efforts and their professionalism in order to combat Asian carp and to do the search-and-destroy effort we’re doing today,” said Marc Miller, Illinois’ natural resources director.

Crews were focusing on areas where warm water from industrial operations, including power plants and wastewater treatment plants, enters the waterways. Fish tend to congregate near the warmer water in the winter.

During one search operation at a suburban Chicago canal, steam rose as crews set out a large mesh net, then circled its perimeter, sending electric charges into the water to herd fish toward the net.

Officials have environmental DNA evidence from several locations suggesting the destructive species has gone past the electric barriers, but no Asian carp have been found beyond them.

“We presume they would be present anywhere within this waterway system,” said John Rogner, assistant director of the Illinois natural resources department.

In December, wildlife officials discovered a single Asian carp in the ship canal leading to Lake Michigan. Environmentalists fear if the carp reach the lakes they could starve out native fish species and devastate a $7 billion-a-year fishing industry. Carp can grow to 4 feet in length and 100 pounds.

Michigan has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to order Chicago-area shipping locks closed to keep carp out, a request supported by Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York. Illinois opposes the closure. An Obama administration proposal on controlling carp also rejects closing the locks but will consider opening them less often.

Although the federal plan includes more than two dozen proposals for halting the carp’s advance, lock closure has become the flashpoint. During Wednesday’s meeting in Ypsilanti, Mich., dozens of barge and tour boat operators from Chicago said any change in lock operations could put them out of business.

“I rely on the river and the locks,” said Jennifer Perry, a Chicago water taxi captain. “Keep the locks open so we can keep our lives moving.”

Tom Marks, a New York charter boat captain, countered that other livelihoods were at risk — including his own — if the carp spread across the lakes.

“The Great Lakes are priceless,” Marks said. “We lose the Great Lakes to the Asian carp, you’re not going to get them back.”

While Chicago speakers accused federal officials of moving too hastily, others said things were moving too slowly. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, a Michigan Democrat, said the Environmental Protection Agency, Army Corps of Engineers and other agencies should close the locks immediately while a long-term solution is devised.

“We cannot find ourselves in a situation where we look up and say, ‘Oh, if only we had acted sooner,’” Stabenow said.

Earlier, in Traverse City, Mich., an overflow crowd questioned state officials at a meeting called by state Attorney General Mike Cox, who crafted Michigan’s lawsuit demanding lock closure and physical separation of the Great Lakes and Mississippi basins.

“I haven’t sold my boat and equipment yet but if these carp get in, I’m looking for a buyer,” said Eric Anderson, a charter boat captain from Manistee. “This will affect everybody. It’s a trickle-down disaster waiting to happen.”

John Flesher reported from Traverse City, Mich.

On the Net:

Asian carp management: www.asiancarp.org/regionalcoordination