TRAVERSE CITY -- Scientists are defending DNA evidence that shows Asian carp are one step closer to invading the Great Lakes.
7&4's Kate Fox has more on the research paper that was just released today and shows how it could help stop the spread of the invasive fish.
The paper is the first published document that provides legitimate evidence showing Asian carp have gotten past the electric barrier designed to keep them out. It was published by the 'Conservation Letters' Journal. The lead author of the paper Dr. Christopher Jerde from Notre Dame University says these findings are extremely alarming.
Dr. Jerde says, "The scientist in me is interested in the technique but the person that lives in the great lakes region really doesn't want to have Asian carp in this area."
Dr. Christopher Jerde from the University Of Notre Dame is the lead author of the paper published Wednesday in the conservation letters journal.
The paper breaks down a study done by biologists from the University of Notre Dame and the nature conservancy.
They gathered approximately 775 samples from waterways near Chicago and found that 58 samples taken from beyond the electric barrier contained DNA from Asian carp.
Dr. Jerde explains, "It's like the skin tissues that your skin is sluffing right now were finding that trace material in the water because when fish are swimming there sluffing material."
Dr. Jerde says they know that at least two carp have gotten through because they have detection of big head carp and silver carp,” The fact that we keep going back to same locations and we find the signal would lead us to believe there’s a least a few up there. The other problem is once Asian carp are up above it's an open system to Lake Michigan."
Director of the Watershed Center in Grand Traverse Bay Andy Knott says this paper will act as a focal point in the lawsuit that's fighting to close the Chicago area shipping locks.
Knott says, "The publication of this study should make the judge reconsider the decision to not close the canals and really the study should prove to the judge that the canals should be closed."
Dr. Jerde says the take home question for great lakes citizens is what can we do now to prevent the spreading of the Asian carp population. He offers techniques to consider, "…targeted removals of fish, putting in obstacles for their movement out into the great lakes and then improving the ways that we can deal with them."
The US Army Corp of Engineers will be hosting a public hearing in Traverse City on January 27th.
It will be held at the Hagerty Center, located on 715 E Front St in Traverse City and goes from 2:00pm-8:00pm.
