Largest Carp Capture To Date In Upper Mississipppi Pool 6

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reported a record catch of 30 silver carp March 23 in Pool 6 of the Mississippi River near Winona, Minn., by a commercial fishing company. It was the largest number of silver carp captured so far north, although the Minnesota DNR said silver carp have been caught before in Pool 6 and as far north at the Twin Cities.

The Minnesota DNR said it is working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Wisconsin DNR and other partners to respond to this capture. Additional commercial fishing was conducted the following week in Pool 6. A previously scheduled netting and capture operation using the Modified Unified Method (MUM) in Pools 5A, 6 and 8 will begin April 24. MUM is an adaptive process using boats or sound to herd carp into nets for removal. The DNR also continues to work with partners to assess other potential prevention and management tools.

“While there is currently no ‘silver bullet’ to prevent or eliminate invasive carp, we will continue to use a combination of proven methods and the best available information to minimize risk by targeting and removing as many fish as possible,” said DNR Invasive Fish Coordinator Grace Loppnow. “As demonstrated by this catch, the expertise of our contracted commercial fishers is one of many important tools.”