Monitoring for Asian carp to increase in Illinois

CHICAGO (AP) — Federal and Illinois officials said Thursday that they will intensify efforts to find Asian carp in Illinois waterways this year but cut back on DNA sampling that has scored positive hits without resulting in the discovery of the invasive fish.

The $6.5 million plan released by the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee “will focus on actions that have achieved tangible results,” including removing Asian carp from the Upper Illinois River and other waterways below a set of electric barriers meant to keep them from reaching Lake Michigan, Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director Marc Miller said in a written statement.