Great Lakes states to fish for invasive species
SPRINGFIELD - Several states from the Great Lakes region are teaming up to reduce invasive fish species that have grown in population in recent years.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has announced that it is joining state agencies from Indiana, Michigan and Minnesota to complete an "invasive fish surveillance exercise" in Calumet Harbor on Wednesday. Federal wildlife agencies will also assist. The harbor is located on Chicago's South Side.
Agency officials say they will use intensive netting and "electro-fishing" techniques to find invasive aquatic species. The exercise will be the first of its kind. It comes after governors from the Great Lakes region in April signed an agreement to combat invasive species.
The exercise will also reach other near-shore areas of Lake Michigan in Illinois and Indiana.