On Thursday, a federal judge in Chicago denied a request made by officials in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio and Pennsylvania to shut down two locks on the Great Lakes to prevent Asian carp from invading the region.
The ruling is considered a win for the barge industry, which would be negatively impacted if the request was granted.
According to the judge presiding over the case, Judge Robert Dow Jr., although the threat that can result from an infestation of the fish is "great," it is still only a "potential" threat at this point.
While a number of officials are disappointed with the decision, some conservation groups have decided to concentrate on trying to permanently separate the Great Lakes and the Mississippi basin rather than attempting to close off the locks entirely.