Asian Carp netted in Lake Pepin

A commercial fisherman netted a bighead carp, one of four Asian Carp species, in Lake Pepin October 23.
Invasive Fish Coordinator for the State of Minnesota, Nick Frohnauer, said the fish have been in the Mississippi since the 1970s, but the population hasn't reached this section of the river yet.
There are four species of Asian Carp, including the bighead, silver, grass, and black.
"The bighead is closely related to the silver carp, both feeding on phytoplankton," Frohnauer said. "The silver carp jumps, though. The bighead doesn't."
Grass carp feed on aquatic vegetation, and the black carp feed on mussels and snails.
"Asian carp were brought in in the '70s to deal with pond issues," Frohnauer said. "Some escaped from ponds and got into the natural system. The spread can move at various speeds up the Mississippi."
The carp was netted in Lake Pepin near Frontenac, and Frohnauer said he's pretty sure this isn't the first to be caught in Lake Pepin.
"Invasive species pose biological and economical threats," he said. "Luckily we are just seeing individuals being caught, and not seeing small fish or eggs. We don't believe there is a population in this stretch of the Mississippi."
Frohnauer said the DNR is taking steps to limit the impacts of the species.
"In the case of the Mississippi, it's hard to stop the spread dead in its tracks," he said. "We can do things to slow it down, though."
The DNR works with the University of Minnesota and the Lock and Dams to slow the fish.
"Obviously they can get by the preventative measures if they're being found this far up," he said. "The carp can get by the gates and locks, and some have spillways that give the fish potential to get by."
Frohnauer said a research group is looking at changing the structure of the gate system to prevent the carp from getting by, as well as lock structures.
"We're looking at things like using bubbles, lights, and CO2 in the locks," he said. "They're not 100 percent solutions, but the hope is to not let many carp through."
The bighead carp can grow up to 100 pounds, and the one netted in Lake Pepin was around 40 pounds.
"The bighead get the biggest," he said. "Silver and the others can grow up to 70 to 80 pounds."
If an Asian carp is caught, Frohnauer suggests contacting the local fisheries office, or the Fish and Wildlife Service in La Crosse.
"Always take pictures," he said.
Frohnauer is based out of St. Paul, and covers the Wisconsin-Iowa border into Minnesota.
The DNR in Minnesota partners with the Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as the Wisconsin and Iowa DNR.
"We take the threat of invasive carp seriously," he said. "We're working hard to help combat the issue."