By AP
CICERO, ILL –
State and federal fisheries biologists are using fishing nets and boats equipped with electric prods for their "search and destroy" mission of the dreaded Asian carp.
The operation that started today includes 20 commercial fishermen and biologists from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Crews are braving frigid temperatures to search Chicago-area waters for silver or bighead Asian carp that have breached electric fish barriers.
During one search at a suburban Chicago canal, steam rose from the water as crews set out a large mesh net. They then circled its perimeter, sending electric charges into the water to herd fish toward the net.
While the search yielded plenty of fish, no Asian carp were found. The search will continue for two to three weeks.