Asian carp: No bigheads or silvers, Chicago

First phase of Asian Carp Sampling Effort Complete No Bighead or Silver carp collected Chicago, IL- The Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (RCC) today completed the first phase of current sampling efforts on the Little Calumet River in South Chicago. On Thursday the fish toxicant, Rotenone, was successfully applied to a 2.5 mile section of the waterway and detoxification and fish recovery operations began. Fisheries biologists from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and other supporting agencies have collected approximately 11,000 fish so far (mostly Common carp and Gizzard shad) though no Bighead or Silver carp were found. More fish will be recovered over the next several days as operations continue. A five mile safety zone established by the U.S. Coast Guard remains in effect, closing the river from mile marker 321.5 to 326.5 to all commercial and recreational vessel traffic until the Coast Guard Captain of the Port rescinds the safety zone following the completion of fish recovery operations sometime in the next 3-5 days. The public should NOT swim or recreate in the treatment area, or catch or eat fish found in the treatment area until signs around the treatment area have been removed.