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Asian carp have been making their way up the Mississippi River system for years after escaping from fish farms and wastewater treatment ponds in the southern U.S.They’re knocking on the door of the Great Lakes, and a number of people are concerned about what could happen if carp become established in the region.In this five-part series, we’ll take a look at what officials are trying to do to keep the fish out, what might happen if carp get in, and why some people want to turn carp into a business opportunity.

DNR develops video to help spot young Asian carp

DNR
Asian carp

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has developed a video to help anglers identify young Asian carp and prevent them from getting into the Great Lakes.

Asian carp are large, voracious fish that have been migrating toward the lakes from Southern rivers. The two most feared varieties are bighead and silver carp.

Officials fear that juvenile Asian carp will find their way into the bait supply if anglers confuse them with common baitfish such as gizzard shad and emerald shiners.

The new video displays five characteristics of juvenile Asian carp. They include color, scales, eyes, mouths and keels.

It advises anglers who think they might have the carp in their bait buckets to throw them in the trash or take them to the DNR for inspection.

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Online: http://www.michigan.gov/asiancarp

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting.