Asian Carp DNA Found in Mississippi River in Minneapolis

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says invasive Asian carp may be present in the Twin Cities stretch of the Mississippi River.

The DNR said Thursday that water samples from the Mississippi downstream from the Ford Dam in Minneapolis have tested positive for genetic material from silver carp.

The National Park Service and the DNR conducted the Mississippi River testing in September after similar DNA testing in June indicated the presence of silver carp in the St. Croix (kroy) River.

The DNR says it will immediately hire a commercial fisherman to begin netting and searching for Asian carp below the Ford Dam. No Asian carp were discovered in the St. Croix after a nine-day search by DNR biologists and a commercial fisherman.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-10-20-11 1545EDT