Traverse City Record-Eagle

Archive: Monday

June 18, 2012

DNR to search lake after illegal carp report

CAMBRIDGE TOWNSHIP — Wildlife experts plan to search a southern Michigan lake for illegal carp this week after a fisherman submitted a photo of a 3-foot-long grass carp.

Department of Natural Resources agency biologist Todd Kalish says a crew traveled Monday to set up at Marrs Lake in Lenawee County, about 20 miles southeast of Jackson. Kalish says the crew plans to place nets in the water and will pull them out on Thursday to inventory what’s found.

Grass carp are considered a species of Asian carp but do not pose the same risk to the ecosystem. Nonetheless, the DNR says they eat important plants and can disrupt fish habitat.

The DNR earlier this month announced the planned search. If grass carp are found, experts will determine if they are reproducing.

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