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New Report Says Electrical Barriers Insufficient To Keep Asian Carp Out Of Great Lakes

A new research report from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says that fish are capable of crossing an electrical barrier designed to keep Asian carp from using the Chicago ship canal to enter the Great Lakes.   The report says there's no evidence that Asian carp are bypassing the barriers, which were established to prevent billions of dollars in potential damage to the Great Lakes fisheries.    But the report says that initial findings show that passing vessels "can capture fish and transport them beyond the electrical barriers." In addition, the report says that "certain barge configurations" could affect the strength of the electrical field.   The report says that could let schools of 2- to 4-inch fish pass the barrier. The Army Corps released the report Friday.  Great Lakes states like Ohio are concerned that an invasion of the voracious Asian carp could ruin the multi-billion dollar sports fish industry.

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