The eight-pound silver carp found nine miles from Lake Michigan in the Chicago Area Waterway System – almost 30 miles past electric barriers designed to keep Asian carp out of the system – spent most of its life below the barriers, according to an autopsy conducted by Southern Illinois University, the results of which were released today by the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (ACRCC).

Their full press release is available here: http://www.asiancarp.us/news/Silverautopsy.htm

Their findings show that the male silver carp spent a quarter of its life in the Middle Mississippi/Illinois River watershed, a quarter of its life in the Des Plaines River watershed, and found its way above the electric barriers within the last few weeks or months before it was caught in a pool below the T.J. O’Brien Lock and Dam.

The following is an on-the-record quote from Marc Smith, Great Lakes Conservation Director for the National Wildlife Federation:

“The live silver carp that was found just 9 miles from Lake Michigan this past June likely made its way through the electrical deterrents, confirming that our current defenses are not strong enough to prevent Asian carp from swimming into Lake Michigan. We need additional defenses against Asian carp implemented as soon as possible, including those recommended in the Army Corps of Engineers plan for Brandon Road.”