Missouri conservation groups remove invasive carp in Platte River

FARLEY, Mo. —

The Missouri Department of Conservation and Missouri Coast Fisheries are working to protect Missouri waterways from an invasive – and jumpy – species.

The groups are removing invasive silver carp, which are threatening the Platte River. Advertisement

Major carp removals are taking place Sept. 8-12 and Sept. 22-26.

The silver carp crowd out native fish and disrupt natural ecosystems, the conservation department said. The carp often eat plankton that other fish need.

These fish are also well known for “dangerous jumping behavior,” where they leap out of the water in response to disturbances.

Groups like Missouri Coast Fisheries, a Farley-based company, are working to find sustainable uses for the carp after taking them out of the river.

Once the carp are harvested, they