As communities across the west continue to be astonished by their numbers and anxiety grows around the damage being done by carp, a leading fish ecologist has questioned why the Federal Government has not acted to stop the invasive species. 

“I've been working for fish ecology over 30 years and I have never seen anything like it,” said Adam Kerezsy, a freshwater ecologist and author from Lake Cargelligo.

“There are literally billions of carp,” he told the Western Plains App “ There simply isn't enough room for our native fish to thrive”. 

Kereszy attributes the rise in large part to when “the weather shifted from a wet spring to a more typical hot summer.” He said this provided “ideal and extended breeding conditions for carp”. 

Kereszy says while there is “no silver bullet” - that there isn't enough being done by the Federal Goverment to stop the feral fish which was originally introduced to Australia in the 1800s from central Asia and eastern Europe. 

He pointed out that three options are not being utilised - removing carp at barriers such as weirs, breeding them to extinction using “daughterless” genetic manipulation, and using the Cyprinid herpes virus 3. 

The Western Plains App understands the herpes virus has received the most government attention and money over the last few years. Several million dollars were dedicated to the herpes virus six years ago by the then federal Coalition Government.

 CSIRO scientists had tested the virus in Australian native fish species and established that it is safe to release into the ecosystem without harming other species. The virus, which works on the creature’s skin and kidneys, kills the fish within about seven days of contraction. 

ABOVE: Adam Kereszy. Image: Supplied. 

However, since a report was released in October 2021 recommending the application of the herpes virus to deal with carp, the Government is yet to act. 

A spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture, Fishers and Forestries told the Western Plains “The National Carp Control Plan (NCCP) has examined the feasibility of the Cyprinid herpes virus 3 (the carp virus) as a biological control option for carp has been completed, and although the report provides insights into the feasibility of the carp virus as a biocontrol agent, there remain uncertainties regarding the efficiency and effectiveness of the virus in safely removing carp from Australian waterways”. 

“Any potential future release of the carp virus would not only require further research but also agreement from all relevant jurisdictions, legislative approvals and extensive stakeholder consultation. This entire process would take several years to complete.” the spokesperson said. 

The Department also told the Western Plains App that “further feasibility considerations” were needed before it could consider the daughterless carp program and that it is up to the state government to implement any other options such as weir management. 

“Management of established pests, like carp, is a shared responsibility between landholders, community, industry and government” the spokesperson said.