In what has been coined "carpageddon" by none other than the Australian government, the proposed carp cull is making it's way to Queanbeyan rivers.
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In an attempt to eradicate the species, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture, Barnaby Joyce announced a plan to release cyprinid herpesvirus (carp herpes virus) into Australian rivers in 2018.
Carp have been a problem throughout the Murray-Darling Basin for decades and for many fishers, this proposal is a welcome change.
Capital Region Fishing Alliance president Shane Jasprizza said like anywhere in the basin, carp make up the vast majority of fish in the river.
"It's been estimated up to 80 per cent of the biomass of fish in the Murray Darling Basin is carp," he said.
But Mr Jasprizza warned killing carp raises other concerns, like the potential for redfin perch populations to increase.
"Carp aren't the only pest, there's also the redfin perch ... redfin are probably even more destructive than the carp can be.
"They're just one issue that's affecting native fish.
"Droughts, dams, land clearing, removing riverside vegetation and the amount of water that's taken out of rivers for irrigation has a big impact as well.
"Just getting rid of the carp isn't going to solve the problem.
"There needs to be a lot of work done around associated things like rehabilitating the rivers and providing better habitats for native fish," Mr Jasprizza said.
He also said that $15 million over three years is unlikely to cover the cost of cleaning up carp when they die.
Overall Mr Jasprizza views the proposed virus as a positive.
"At this stage is sounds like the best chance we've got, it's almost a once in a lifetime opportunity to have a significant impact [on carp]."
"The key is that all this additional works that would help it to be successful, in terms of restoring the native fish.
The invasive species has not penetrated Googong Dam yet, but below the man-made barrier carp cause extensive damage to natural environments and native species along the Queanbeyan and Molonglo Rivers.
Federal Member for Eden-Monaro Dr Peter Hendy said the National Carp Control Plan will curb carp populations that have progressively decimated native fish across the country and reduced water quality since they became an established element of Australia's waterways in the 1960s,
"I know people in Eden-Monaro will be deeply interested in the detail, which is why there will be stakeholder consultation throughout the process so our community and people who use our waterways have a chance to provide input," he said.
On Friday, May 6, assistant Minister for Agriculture Anne Ruston will visit Queanbeyan to announce what the National Carp Control Plan legislation will mean for the region's rivers. She is set to meet with the community from 9am on the Queanbeyan River near the Queanbeyan Art Gallery in Trinculo Place.
