The Department of Natural Resources in both Wisconsin and Minnesota are working with federal officials to try a new method to capture and remove invasive carp from the Mississippi River.

Biologists are using huge nets to section off parts of the river where the carp have been found. Recently they were working near La Crosse, a spot where the invasive species has been increasing in numbers.

Underwater sound and electricity are used to drive the fish into the nets.

The agencies are working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Geological Survey on the project which began last week.

"The U.S. Geological Survey adapted this method from a Chinese aquaculture technique. Invasive carp are native in Asia...where they're harvested as an aquaculture species, so the USGS kind of adapted that method in order to manage invasive carp in North America," Carli Wagner, Minnesota DNR invasive species specialist, said in a statement distributed by the DNR.

The Minnesota DNR says the operation was designed as part of a response to 51 invasive carp being found in Pool 8 in March 2020. Another 14 invasive carp were captured in the pool before the operation this year, and at least 29 more were captured using the new method.