(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Something described as a "smart chute" is being developed in central Illinois to remove Asian carp from waterways before the invasive fish can make their way into Lake Michigan and harm its ecosystem.
Doug Blodgett of the Nature Conservancy says the system along the Illinois River at the Emiquon Preserve uses cameras and computers to sort fish. Native fish are allowed to pass through, while Asian carp are sent to a holding area and removed.
The system has been compared to facial recognition technology.
Blodgett on Wednesday said the main issue now is figuring out how to get enough Asian carp to swim into the sorting system. Several chutes could be deployed in a couple of years.
Also involved in the project are the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the Illinois Natural History Survey and Whooshh Innovations, which is developing the smart technology.