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Experts To Testify In Asian Carp Lawsuit

Experts are set to testify in a federal lawsuit in Chicago, where five states are asking a judge to close Illinois shipping locks to prevent Asian carp from overrunning the Great Lakes.

In two days of hearings starting Tuesday, scientists will discuss environmental DNA testing that found genetic material from carp in Illinois waterways near Lake Michigan.

Biologists fear if the ravenous fish get into the Great Lakes they'll decimate a $7 billion-a-year fishing industry.

Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Minnesota and Pennsylvania sued to temporarily close the O'Brien and Chicago locks. They also want barriers installed to stop the fish.

The barge industry and others say closing the locks would be a major blow to their businesses.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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