DNR Finds 33-Pound Invasive Carp In St Joseph River

They've known invasive and illegal grass carp have been in the St. Joseph River for some time now, but the Michigan Department of Natural Resources says one that was caught in June has become a disturbing discovery. The 33-pound fish is the first one they've found that is capable of reproducing. The carp are a species of invasive Asian carp, but don't pose the same threat to the ecosystem as the large silver fish that are more well known up and down the Mississippi River basin. The DNR says the fish was found in the St. Joseph River in Berrien County, and these types eat important plants and can disrupt the habitat of native fish. Officials will try to find potential entry points and are also planning to monitor the river and tributaries and start what they call "electrofishing" to determine how far the carp have spread.