The first comprehensive scientific study of carp in NSW has identified breeding hotspots which will be targeted in a bid to limit the impact of the introduced fish pest.

NSW Department of Primary Industries researcher, Dean Gilligan, said an effective carp management strategy was a necessary part of the rehabilitation of the Murray-Darling River system.

“The project has already identified carp-breeding hotspots, generally in the large wetland systems at the lower part of the catchment, and we aim to target these areas with the new daughterless carp biotechnology,” Dr Gilligan said.

Currently being developed through the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre, the ‘daughterless’ carp gene technology aims to breed fish which produce only male offspring.

Once these fish are released into the wild population the result will be an imbalance in the existing ratio of male to female fish.

“As the number of female carp declines we hope to see a significant reduction in the carp population," he said.

“While this technology may be very effective it could take more than 100 years, so we need to use ‘daughterless’ carp with other controls as part of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy to reduce the impact and number of carp.

“The study we have conducted in the Murray-Darling has contributed to our understanding of carp biology and we are using those results to develop an IPM which is going to work.”

Continual monitoring of the entire IPM strategy will ensure the effectiveness of the carp control program.
 
Contact Dr Dean Gilligan, Narrandera 6959 9021.

This story appears Agriculture Today.