Officials: No evidence of Asian carp in Great Lakes

Michigan officials have found no evidence of Asian carp so far this year in the state’s waters of the Great Lakes system.

Long considered major threat to the region’s ecosystems, invasive Asian carp have been on the doorstep of the Great Lakes for seven years.

In 2009, researchers at the University of Notre Dame and the Nature Conservancy found traces of environmental DNA, or eDNA, on the water approaching Lake Michigan near Chicago.

Since that time, government and environmental groups have been on the lookout for any signs that Asian carp have established a sustainable population in the lakes, as well as Michigan’s inland streams and rivers. That includes annual water sampling.

On Wednesday, Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources announced no evidence has been found this year.

“Along with our participation in the eDNA surveillance program, we continue to be diligent with early detection efforts, such as conducting fish population surveys, increasing awareness among anglers, and maintaining an invasive carps reporting website for anglers to share any suspicious catches or observations that occur during their outings,” stated Seth Herbst, the fisheries division’s aquatic invasive species coordinator, in a press release.

JLynch@detroitnews.com

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