Biologists clean up more than 700,000 pounds of invasive carp in Illi…

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — Some fishermen and biologists just got back from a very successful fishing trip on the Illinois River – more than 700,000 pounds of carp!

According to a news release from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, agency biologists along with commercial contracted fishers and Illinois River Biological Station biologists caught and removed more than 750,000 pounds of silver carp during a 10-day intensive harvest operation in the Starved Rock pool of the river.

The department said the harvest operation is its biggest single removal operation. They also believe it’s the largest freshwater harvest in the United States.

The crew used a process called seining, where a net surrounds the fish from all sides and underneath to bring them to the bank. The silver carp cannot jump out of the seine in cool water.

Last year the operation was able to remove 350,000 pounds. This year, the crew had more experience while the weather…