Asian carp found in Lake Erie, Ministry of Natural Resources says

A commercial fisherman pulled a grass carp, a species of the invasive Asian carp, from Lake Erie near Point Pelee yesterday.

The fish was caught just west of Point Pelee. The fish was a 23-pound grass carp.

This type of fish eats vegetation, but it doesn’t pose as big of a threat as other carp species.

“Bighead and silver carp are the carp that really could do significant damage to the economy and ecology of the Great Lakes and those are the species about which we’re most concerned,” said Ed Golder of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Experts said the carp species is a threat to the fishing industry in the Great Lakes.

The fish has been sent to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in Burlington for testing to see if the fish is fertile or sterile.

Agencies/Canadajournal