CARP CONTROL INITIATIVES WE SUPPORT
CARP REDUCTION AND CONTROL MEASURES
To change the classification of carp from pest to valuable resource will require us to reduce and control excessive carp biomass. How we achieve this and what we do with the resource is where the big difference lie between the Carp Australia Resource Project and the National Carp Control Plan. Our plan is to SENSIBLY REDUCE AND USE whereas the National Carp Control Plan is based on KILL AND WASTE.
The Carp Australia Resource Project support a CONCERTED EFFORT AND COMBINATION of the Carp Resource Centres (our initiative), “The Daughterless Carp” project, Commercial fishing, various harvesting methods and complementing initiatives to reduce and control excessive carp biomass.
HARVESTING: Intensive Commercial fishing using various means will be used to remove carp from waterways. This will be done by Private contractors, Carp Resource Centre professionals, Carp-out competitions as well as new ventures and initiatives.
We would also like to see an incentive scheme for small operators and individuals who would like to supply the Carp Resource Centres. This may well turn out to be a much needed source of income for the unemployed or those families who are doing it tough.
****CARP RESOURCE CENTRES**** (C.A.R.P INITIATIVE):
These will play a very significant role in reducing the carp biomass and to maximise the use of the resource. They will be multipurpose centres located at various points along the Murray Darling Basin and other carp "hotspots". Having a Multi functioning design add to the viability and longevity of these facilities as they will always be able to produce products irrespective of the carp biomass. Carp resource centres will not only play a very important role in sensibly reducing the carp biomass and stocking of natives but will also create much needed jobs and contribute towards the local economy. These centres will be linked and work together to keep all operations viable especially during times when carp numbers are low in certain areas.
Centres will consist of:
Sorting plant: Delivered fish will be sorted for different uses for example: food source, fish meal, fish oil, fertilizer etc.
Food source processing plant: This is where fish will be filleted / smoked/ processed / canned for human consumption. Products will be supplied to local and International markets as well as various world hunger programmes. The products will obviously be Guaranteed Koi herpes virus free and will be sold on that basis.
Aquaponics section:
Aquaponics is the combination of aquaculture (raising Native fish species) and hydroponics (the soil-less growing of plants) that grows fish and plants together in one integrated system. The fish waste provides an organic food source for the plants, and the plants naturally filter the water for the fish.
Here native fish will be bred and later released into the river. We therefor remove carp and replace them with native fish who over time will help to keep the carp numbers at acceptable levels.
The plants grown at the aquaponics section will be sold to add to the overall turnover of the facility.
We are still planning these facilities but our aim is to make full use of the resource and hope to also produce fish oil, fishmeal, fish pellets, Fertiliser, World hunger food parcels etc.
The pellets will either be sold or used to supplement the diet of the native fish in the aquaponics section. Everything we do is aimed at maximising the use of carp and value for money invested in the project. (Which would otherwise be wasted on the wasteful Koi Herpes Virus project) These facilities may not generate rivers of gold but it will show that as a nation we have decided that instead of wasting money on plans to waste 2 000 000 tonnes of healthy fish protein we would rather use the species as a resource and food source not only to feed those who can afford it but also for the 795 000 000 people around the world who go to bed hungry.
DAUGHTERLESS CARP PROJECT:
We support this project as it is not wasteful and very likely to be much more effective than the controversial Koi Herpes Virus. Using this in combination with the other control measures will be a safe, sensible and effective way to control carp in our waters. If there are no females to breed there are no females to breed, it is as simple as that. It will give nature time to adapt and won’t have the destructive and very damaging effects of the Koi Herpes Virus. It will also not hold future generations hostage (like the KHV) by preventing them from using this very healthy fish protein as an “affordable” but very important food source especially considering that the world is under ever increasing pressure to produce more food.(especially fish protein)
How it works:
Female fish development relies heavily on the hormone estrogen, which is produced by the transformation of androgen by the enzyme aromatase. Daughterless carp are produced by blocking the gene that produces aromatase, which prevents the development of female embryos and leads to an all-male population.
If fish are released into the environment, the gene will propagate throughout the population. It is possible to use an aggressive genetic modification that will rapidly self-propagate. Once carp are introduced, terminal population decline would be inevitable. However, if such fish were released into the carp's native range, it would decimate those populations. Also, a small risk exists that the gene could transfer over to native fish populations, eliminating them as well; however, as carp do not breed with any native Australian species, the risk of the technology affecting anything other than the targeted pest in Australia is extremely low. Scientists consider a less aggressive approach that is safer but will require constant seeding into the population. Left alone, the wild healthy genes would come to dominate.
CARP REMOVAL AT LOCK 1:
A report stated that 140,000 tonnes of carp had been caught one year at just one lock on the Murray and processed into fertiliser. That would mean 384 tonnes each day: 16 tonnes every hour needing a 16-tonne truck delivering them to the Deniliquin carp fertiliser factory every hour.
Source:
http://theconversation.com/should-we-release-the-deadly-carp-virus-into-our-rivers-and-water-supplies-57982
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/health-science/csiros-herpes-virus-ready-for-release-to-eradicate-carp/news-story/515a252b06c3406e243689dcf895852b
ENVIROMENTAL WATER BENEFIT NATIVES ABILITY TO SPAWN OVER THAT OF CARP
Additional Commonwealth Environmental water have a negative effect on Carp's ability to spawn.:
"Monitoring of environmental watering in the Murrumbidgee during 2014–15 found that native fish, including the critically endangered Silver Perch, Murray Cod and Australian Smelt, spawned in response to watering. Results also indicated low larval counts of invasive species including carp."
Source: http://www.environment.gov.au/water/cewo/carp-murray-darling-basin
CARP EXCLUSION SCREENS:
In the Murray-Darling Basin, up to 98% of Carp (Cyprinus carpio) are produced in wetlands connected to the main rivers. Carp Exclusion Screens (CES) are mesh barriers that are installed at inlets to wetlands to exclude large fish from entering and provide a management tool to protect ecologically important areas from the impacts of carp. This technology is already in use and will form part of the comprehensive plan to reduce carp’s ability to breed.
To change the classification of carp from pest to valuable resource will require us to reduce and control excessive carp biomass. How we achieve this and what we do with the resource is where the big difference lie between the Carp Australia Resource Project and the National Carp Control Plan. Our plan is to SENSIBLY REDUCE AND USE whereas the National Carp Control Plan is based on KILL AND WASTE.
The Carp Australia Resource Project support a CONCERTED EFFORT AND COMBINATION of the Carp Resource Centres (our initiative), “The Daughterless Carp” project, Commercial fishing, various harvesting methods and complementing initiatives to reduce and control excessive carp biomass.
HARVESTING: Intensive Commercial fishing using various means will be used to remove carp from waterways. This will be done by Private contractors, Carp Resource Centre professionals, Carp-out competitions as well as new ventures and initiatives.
We would also like to see an incentive scheme for small operators and individuals who would like to supply the Carp Resource Centres. This may well turn out to be a much needed source of income for the unemployed or those families who are doing it tough.
****CARP RESOURCE CENTRES**** (C.A.R.P INITIATIVE):
These will play a very significant role in reducing the carp biomass and to maximise the use of the resource. They will be multipurpose centres located at various points along the Murray Darling Basin and other carp "hotspots". Having a Multi functioning design add to the viability and longevity of these facilities as they will always be able to produce products irrespective of the carp biomass. Carp resource centres will not only play a very important role in sensibly reducing the carp biomass and stocking of natives but will also create much needed jobs and contribute towards the local economy. These centres will be linked and work together to keep all operations viable especially during times when carp numbers are low in certain areas.
Centres will consist of:
Sorting plant: Delivered fish will be sorted for different uses for example: food source, fish meal, fish oil, fertilizer etc.
Food source processing plant: This is where fish will be filleted / smoked/ processed / canned for human consumption. Products will be supplied to local and International markets as well as various world hunger programmes. The products will obviously be Guaranteed Koi herpes virus free and will be sold on that basis.
Aquaponics section:
Aquaponics is the combination of aquaculture (raising Native fish species) and hydroponics (the soil-less growing of plants) that grows fish and plants together in one integrated system. The fish waste provides an organic food source for the plants, and the plants naturally filter the water for the fish.
Here native fish will be bred and later released into the river. We therefor remove carp and replace them with native fish who over time will help to keep the carp numbers at acceptable levels.
The plants grown at the aquaponics section will be sold to add to the overall turnover of the facility.
We are still planning these facilities but our aim is to make full use of the resource and hope to also produce fish oil, fishmeal, fish pellets, Fertiliser, World hunger food parcels etc.
The pellets will either be sold or used to supplement the diet of the native fish in the aquaponics section. Everything we do is aimed at maximising the use of carp and value for money invested in the project. (Which would otherwise be wasted on the wasteful Koi Herpes Virus project) These facilities may not generate rivers of gold but it will show that as a nation we have decided that instead of wasting money on plans to waste 2 000 000 tonnes of healthy fish protein we would rather use the species as a resource and food source not only to feed those who can afford it but also for the 795 000 000 people around the world who go to bed hungry.
DAUGHTERLESS CARP PROJECT:
We support this project as it is not wasteful and very likely to be much more effective than the controversial Koi Herpes Virus. Using this in combination with the other control measures will be a safe, sensible and effective way to control carp in our waters. If there are no females to breed there are no females to breed, it is as simple as that. It will give nature time to adapt and won’t have the destructive and very damaging effects of the Koi Herpes Virus. It will also not hold future generations hostage (like the KHV) by preventing them from using this very healthy fish protein as an “affordable” but very important food source especially considering that the world is under ever increasing pressure to produce more food.(especially fish protein)
How it works:
Female fish development relies heavily on the hormone estrogen, which is produced by the transformation of androgen by the enzyme aromatase. Daughterless carp are produced by blocking the gene that produces aromatase, which prevents the development of female embryos and leads to an all-male population.
If fish are released into the environment, the gene will propagate throughout the population. It is possible to use an aggressive genetic modification that will rapidly self-propagate. Once carp are introduced, terminal population decline would be inevitable. However, if such fish were released into the carp's native range, it would decimate those populations. Also, a small risk exists that the gene could transfer over to native fish populations, eliminating them as well; however, as carp do not breed with any native Australian species, the risk of the technology affecting anything other than the targeted pest in Australia is extremely low. Scientists consider a less aggressive approach that is safer but will require constant seeding into the population. Left alone, the wild healthy genes would come to dominate.
CARP REMOVAL AT LOCK 1:
A report stated that 140,000 tonnes of carp had been caught one year at just one lock on the Murray and processed into fertiliser. That would mean 384 tonnes each day: 16 tonnes every hour needing a 16-tonne truck delivering them to the Deniliquin carp fertiliser factory every hour.
Source:
http://theconversation.com/should-we-release-the-deadly-carp-virus-into-our-rivers-and-water-supplies-57982
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/health-science/csiros-herpes-virus-ready-for-release-to-eradicate-carp/news-story/515a252b06c3406e243689dcf895852b
ENVIROMENTAL WATER BENEFIT NATIVES ABILITY TO SPAWN OVER THAT OF CARP
Additional Commonwealth Environmental water have a negative effect on Carp's ability to spawn.:
"Monitoring of environmental watering in the Murrumbidgee during 2014–15 found that native fish, including the critically endangered Silver Perch, Murray Cod and Australian Smelt, spawned in response to watering. Results also indicated low larval counts of invasive species including carp."
Source: http://www.environment.gov.au/water/cewo/carp-murray-darling-basin
CARP EXCLUSION SCREENS:
In the Murray-Darling Basin, up to 98% of Carp (Cyprinus carpio) are produced in wetlands connected to the main rivers. Carp Exclusion Screens (CES) are mesh barriers that are installed at inlets to wetlands to exclude large fish from entering and provide a management tool to protect ecologically important areas from the impacts of carp. This technology is already in use and will form part of the comprehensive plan to reduce carp’s ability to breed.