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Investigating the Status of Grass Carp in the Sandusky River

Summary

Description of Work During 2014-2016, researchers at the USGS Lake Erie Biological Station in collaboration with the University of Toledo used three different gears to try to capture eggs and larvae of Grass Carp. Bongo nets, so named because when held up they resemble Bongo drums, are fine-mesh, cone-shaped nets that are towed through the water for 5 minutes. These nets capture floating eggs (Grass Carp eggs float) and any small fish that can’t swim fast enough to get out of the way. Light traps are fished at night and capture fish that are attracted to light – like Grass Carp. Light traps are fished for about 1 hour at a time in backwater areas where small fish seek cover from current and predators and abundant food. Dipnets are [...]

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Contacts

Principal Investigator :
Patrick Kocovsky
Contact :
Jeremy J Pritt
Associate Project Chief :
Sandra Morrison
Lead Organization :
Lake Erie Biology Station, GLSC

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Purpose

In October 2012 a commercial fisherman in Ohio caught several small grass carp. These fish were all approximately the same length, which led researchers to think they might have been naturally reproduced. An examination of otoliths, small bones in fish heads that help them maintain equilibrium, revealed high levels of the naturally-occurring chemical strontium. This chemical has a particularly high concentration in the Sandusky and Maumee, rivers, leading researchers to believe the small grass carp were probably born there. This provided the first indirect evidence of grass carp reproduction in the Great Lakes, but direct evidence is still lacking. This project is designed to “catch them in the act” of spawning.

Project Extension

projectStatusIn Progress

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