Biologist: DNA testing for Asian carp in Chicago-area waterways could give misleading results

Biologist: Asian carp testing may be misleading

CHICAGO — An Italian biologist says a genetic test for the presence of Asian carp in Chicago-area waterways could give misleading results.

Gentile Ficetola (feh-CHAY’-toh-lah) of the University of Milan testified Wednesday by video in Chicago federal court during a hearing in a five-state lawsuit regarding the invasive species.

Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are seeking the closure of two shipping locks and other measures to prevent the fish from overrunning the Great Lakes and potentially devastating its $7 billion-a-year fishing industry.

Ficetola says the DNA testing could have found remains of dead fish or fish that were transported in barges’ ballast water.

The barge industry and others say closing the locks would be a major blow to their businesses.