Australian scientists have a new strategy for dealing with carp that have invaded their waterways: a virus that, if unleashed, could kill the fish.
While carp, also called koi, are considered a valuable resource in many Asian countries, in Australia the fish is generally viewed as a major pest, according to the new project’s leader, Mark Crane of the Australian Animal Health Laboratory.
“Given their reproductive capacity and their hardiness, carp have been termed the ?rabbit of the river,'” Crane said.
Carp were introduced into Australia in the early 1900s as a food and sporting fish. Extensive flooding in the 1970s allowed the fish to escape from farm dams and take over the waterways. The carp are particularly hard to get rid of because they can tolerate a wide range of water conditions and can also survive and breed in polluted, poorly oxygenated water.
“The fish grow to up to 20 kilograms [44 pounds] or more in weight and each female can lay up to three million eggs in a single season,” Crane said. “In some areas of southeastern Australia carp make up more than 85 percent of the fish in the rivers and creeks.”
The two-year project will investigate the effectiveness of using the Koi herpesvirus as a way to control strains of carp present in Australia and will examine whether the virus will have any impact on certain native fauna.
“The virus works by attacking the carp’s gills as well as other vital organs and eventually killing its host,” Crane said. “Koi herpesvirus is attractive as a biological control agent as overseas studies suggest that it has a very limited host range, infecting only carp.”
This isn’t the first time Australian scientists have thought of using a virus to control a pesky invasive species that threatens to push out native wildlife. In August, researchers at the Pest Animal Control Cooperative Research Center proposed using a highly infectious virus to sterilize female rabbits and keep rabbit populations under control.
For now, these proposals remain in the testing phases. “If the laboratory studies show promise, the next step will be extensive government, public and industry consultation to determine the best course of action to control carp, while protecting and restoring Australia’s valuable waterways,” Crane said.
dunno Jonzee - if you tinker with Mother Nature … she’ll get you back in the end. She did on the introduction of carp. But to add a virus to the waters to clean them out … we’ve all heard ‘It’s perfectly safe’ before …
We’re paying the price (carp, snakefish, goldeye, geese, etc) for invasive species and over-protecting species. Is there a better way to cull the over-population … maybe there is. But I’m damned set against using biological means.
Until there’s not a hungry person left on this planet, waste of food sources (carp, geese) by blatant destruction should not be an option.
arrrhhhhghghhhhhhh … Monday morning and I’m starting to step into it already … need to finish my coffee
Make carp endangered and protected by the USPS. Should clear it up in short order. For extra protection have congress be in an ‘over sight’ position. :twisted:
White Amure, grass carp, were introduced into the
Santee Cooper Lakes of South Carolina about a decade
ago. Seems some of the residents had grass problems.
Well, the carp successfully cleared up the grass
problem. Matter of fact, the grass dissappeared from
the lakes.G All of it. Really changed the fishing
patterns in a major way. After being ranked in the
top 5 bass fisheries in the world for many years, the
lakes became fairly mediocre.G Then a few years
back, mother nature intervened. A virus attacked the
white amure and ignored all the other fish. In a
matter of a couple of weeks, there were an estimated
75 to 100 thousand 40 to 50 pound grass carp floating
belly up. Buzzards came from far and wide to feast
on this bounty provided by mother nature. The grasses have started to return. Mother nature is a
pretty smart lady. Given an opportunity she can fix
many things we screw up.G Warm regards, Jim
I am a firm believer that the law of unintended consequences should be written on the blackboard a hundred thousand times by anyone who introduces a species into the environment. Even the ones we think are the next best thing to sliced bread (rainbow trout, for instance) have done damage that will never be fully understood.
Many years ago New Jersey was considering stocking Pacific Salmon in the Delaware River against the recommendations and wishes of Pennsylvania and New York. Among the concerns besides the obvious dislike of Left Coast fish was the native American Shad and wild trout fishery that exists is this long unobstructed river.
Fortunately clearer heads prevailed. I love them foreign trouts like browns and bows, but some species is gonna lose when you let them in.
Introducing a virus is the absolute WRONG thing to do.
A certain percentage of carp will survive the virus. Thier offspring will inherit the resistance and pass it on. In 3 or 4 generations (not long for a fast reproducing species like carp), the virus will be ineffective on carp.
Any virus has the capacity to mutate and effect other species. AIDS began as Simian Immune Defficiancy in African Green Monkeys. Current fears of a mutated Avian Virus (Asian Bird Flu) should tell you the story. Even if it does not effect humans, it could kill off all the other fish. It could also spread to other countries.
Bottom line…a VERY, VERY BAD IDEA!!!
Best solution…my favorite carp recipe…Creamed Carp on Toast. You can ‘can’ carp and use it just like canned tuna or mackeral. It is delicious. Use the carp as a resource, even commercially. If they are fished out…Oh Well…no one will care that much.
The neat thing about our grass carp is they were
sterile. No hanky panky going on at all. The only
way they can come back in numbers is for an agency
to purchase large quantities and implant them again.
Meanwhile, the powers that be have a better handle
on the inherent problems with doing so. Not only
the cost of doing so, but also the long term effects
on a major revenue producing fishery. Warm regards,
Jim
I would be 100% against introducing any virus- they can mutate & we could in real trouble.
By the way if if anyone wants to see something pretty scary take a look at the Detroit Free Press. Outdoor writer Eric Sharp has a photo essay on these Silver Carp that jump out of the water and have caused some people to be hurt. They escaped from a fish farm on the Missisippi River and have migrated to a canal only a few miles from Lake Michigan. Biologists worry if these get into the Great Lakes they could destroy the ecosystem. Even scarier they could invade a lot of Great lake tributaries. That would devestate rivers like the Manistees-Big & Little & the PM. Check it out the link is on the home page. www.freep.com
They make Guinness in Canada??? Is it a Stout, or Lager?
How does it compare to the real stuff?
The only Canadian brew I’ve ever had a taste for is Carlings Black Label, but I doubt if I’ve sampled all Canada has to offer. I’m actually more of an ale person, rather than beer, and I lean towards the darker stuff like Porter and Stout, but I really like India Pale if it’s done properly.
Actually the GOOD news is Lowenbrau after being brewed my Miller AND Labatt’s is now being sold in North America brewed in MUNICH! Imagine that, German beer brewed in Germany, what will they think of next?
There are many micro brewed beer in Canada that are definatly of quality to be enjoyed by those with mature beer pallets. Note Labbats and/or molson is not one of these great beers.
While there are many mainstream Canadian beers that are great party beers which I am knowen to pack back more than my fair share, There is alot of micro brewed stuff starting to come out of Britsh Columbia whish is simply amazing and much more for enjoyment of the enherant qualities and flavours than the regular swill.
Interesting mirco brews, mainstream everyday beersor the cheapest domestic brewed swill. They all have thier times and distinct flavours for enjoyment.
Jonezee,
I can’t say that I would ever consider a CARP as a fish that I would like to bite my hook.
You might consider organizing a Bow Hunting tournament where they shoot them with arrows!
Doug
Doug: We use to do that back in the sixties and seventies on Sauvie Island, north unit near Sturgeon Lake. A lot of the small ponds had them land locked after the yearly floods and it was the perverbial fish in the barrel shoot. I never did it but a lot of my friends did. I don’t eat Carp so why shoot them? I have caught many Carp over the years, on baited line and fly line. A Carp holds the distinction of being the first fish I ever caught. So much so that I swore that each of my children would have a Cutthroat be their first fish…it almost worked out, number one and two caught a Cutthroat but number 3 had a Pugeot Sound Dogfish Shark. A close second to Mr. Carp.
Here’s one to add to your political baffelgarb file.
Yellow perch have been introduced into some of the local lakes around My hometown. The dept of fisheries have stated that they are trying everything in their power to irradicate the perch. They have placed warnings about this illegal practice and its harmful effects on the Lakes involved. Here’s the kicker this years fishing regulations comes out THERE IS A CATCH LIMIT ON YELLOW PERCH IN THE AFFECTED LAKES. please won’t someone explain the reasoning for this ignorant rule?
Jonezee,
The biggest carp I have ever seen, were in Hell’s Canyon Res. Some of those carp were at least 30 lbs.
I was there with a Guide from Baker OR, and we fished for smallmouth.
After watching many fishing shows, I am aware that smallmouth are popular in parts of the US.
They are NOT very popular here. Here I was at Hell’s Canyon and my first experience with smallmouth.
It turned out to be a pretty FUNNY experience.
This is the third Dam on the Snake and it is a long Res.
I noticed the Guide had a 150hp on his bass boat.
I thought ‘WHY DOES HE NEED THAT MUCH HP?’
I didn’t know it, but the hot spot was ten miles from the boat ramp.
Before this trip, my fastest boat speed was 10 mph.
We went 60 mph and passed a few cars and got to the spot in TEN MINUTES!!!
Then we caught so many smallmouth it was ridiculous!
But those CARP almost made my eyes bugg out!
Doug
