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Poisoning to be Done to Control Asian Carp Population
A routine maintenance project could allow Asian Carp into Lake Michigan, and authorities are willing to poison a stretch of a canal to prevent that from happening.

State and military officials will use a fish toxicant called rotenone in a five-mile stretch of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal -- between Romeoville and Lockport -- in early December while an electrical barrier is turned off for maintenance. The toxicant will force a fish kill, but first, experts will use electrodes to stun fish, take sport fish to a safe area, and proceed with the rotenone. That part of the canal will be closed during this effort.

Another barrier is in the area, but it's an older demonstration barrier, and could allow younger, smaller Asian carp to swim into Lake Michigan. Asian carp can grow to be more than 100 pounds, consume about 40 percent of their bodyweight (meaning less food for other fish), and could devastate the multi-billion dollar fishing industry.

John Rogner, associate director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, says the toxicant is not dangerous to wildlife or humans, and will start dissipating within hours.

(Illinois Radio Network)
11 14 09 by Newsroom
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