Call for virus to tackle carp scourge

A program of carp virus research called the National Carp Control Plan (NCCP) completed in 2022 suggested the carp virus could reduce Australian carp populations by 40 to 80 per cent. More research was recommended before a decision could be made.

The Murray Darling Association believes the carp have become a scourge, damaging the waterways which impacts on native fish.

The association, a membership-based peak representative organisation representing local government and communities across the Murray-Darling Basin, is advocating for the Federal Government to implement the use of the Cyprinid Herpes virus 3.

The Murray-Darling Basin Plan evaluation released recently found native fish populations in the basin have continued to decline in recent years.

“There have been poor fish breeding and movement outcomes across the basin, except for estuarine species in the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth,” the review found.

“Carp, fish death events and many other factors continue to have an impact on fish populations.

“Reporting from basin governments shows some small positive responses to management of water for the environment at local scales.

“However, in most cases these responses have not been sufficient to meet basin-wide targets.”

In the Goulburn and Campaspe rivers, increases in flows since 2012 are likely to be the main drivers of increasing trends in abundance and recruitment for several native fish species.

“Evidence points to increases in carp breeding, particularly following floodplain inundation and large floods. These breeding events pose a threat to native fish and vegetation,” the evaluation found.

“Reporting from basin governments shows significant increases in carp numbers following flooding in 2022-23.”

Murray Darling Association chief executive officer Mark Lamb said the impact of European carp on Australia’s river systems, including those in the Murray-Darling Basin, is well documented, causing damaging erosion along riverbanks, devastating native water plants, and causing water quality issues with serious impacts to communities reliant on the precious resource for survival.

“One of the concerns raised during engagements with community and education experts, as well as in the government’s own National Carp Control Plan, is the management of dead fish following the use of carp management methods,” Mr Lamb said.

To address this, the Murray Darling Association is engaging with experts, industry and local governments to understand what infrastructure exists in a suitable format to process the fish biomass into produce beneficial for the basin communities and industries.