By AP
CHICAGO –
Lawyers for five states seeking the immediate closure of Chicago-area shipping locks to stop the spread of Asian carp have made final arguments in federal court.
Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin say the move would ensure the invasive fish won't overrun the Great Lakes and decimate a $7 billion-a-year fishing industry.
Judge Robert Dow's questions during a three-hour hearing Monday in Chicago focused on the reliability of environmental DNA tests indicating the fish may already be near Lake Michigan.
Speaking for the states, Robert Reichel, said the science seeking genetic traces of live carp is solid and proves the fish could slip into Lake Michigan any day.
Dow says he'll likely make a decision in several weeks.