Ryan Katona of the La Crosse Fish Health Center, Scott Yess of the La Crosse Fishery Resource Office, Kristin Tepas of the Illinois Sea Grant, Nick Barkowski of the Shedd Aquarium, and Matt Kornis from the University of Wisconsin Madison, traveled to Alsip, Illinois to participate in the Goby Roundup/Carp Corral June 11-16. 

This annual event determines population estimates and locations of the asian carp and round goby. 

The round goby were collected with minnow traps, and the common carp with gill nets.  Fish health samples were taken from the round goby and common carp, in order to screen the fish for bacterial and viral pathogens. 

The pathogens of concern were Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia, which has been detected in Four of the Great Lakes, and the Spring Viremia of Carp Virus which has been previously detected from the Illinois River.

Reporters from the Daily Southtown paper, Chicago Public Radio, and Chicago ABC News were present during the week of sampling. For more information contact Ryan Katona, La Crosse Fish Health Center.