DNA from the invasive silver carp has been found in the St. Joseph River. However, that doesn’t mean any of the invasive carp, previously known as the Asian carp, have made it into the waterway. Tammy Newcomb with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources tells us the eDNA, or environmental DNA, was found near Marina Island in June. Invasive carp DNA was also found about five years ago in the Kalamazoo River, and it turned out to be nothing.
“This is not the first time,” Newcomb said. “This is a heavily trafficked area with boat traffic. We’re doing due diligence. The Fish and Wildlife Service will be back out. They’re probably out on the water right now doing more eDNA sampling.”
Newcomb says with all of the boats that come into the St. Joseph marinas from all over, there are multiple ways silver carp DNA could have been brought in.
“We have no evidence to suggest there’s any large number of these fish out there, or if the fish is even a live fish.”
The DNR is collecting 200 more water samples this week. Results will take multiple weeks. In the meantime, Newcomb tells boaters and fishers to be on the lookout for any fish that jump out of the water or that look like the silver carp. You can find out more about invasive carp right here.
