News

Virus update at Catch a Carp Day

Mon, 11 Apr 2016 05:33:00

If all the fish in the Murray River were weighed, research shows 80 to 90 percent of the weight would be carp.

The Riverside Golf Club’s annual Catch a Carp day later this month will do more than offer great prizes for people doing their bit to remove the pest fish from the waterways.
For the first time the day is being combined with a Fishing for the Future Forum, an event organised by the Mallee CMA, allowing people to find out more about the health of River Murray fisheries.
Mallee CMA chair Sharyon Peart said the popular Catch a Carp day was always a fun day out, but this year’s forum will also provide people with access to some of Australia’s leading fisheries researchers and scientists.
“Everyone knows the huge impact carp are having on our river system and removing them is a great thing to do,” Ms Peart said.
“But there’s also so much work going on to try to find long-term solutions to the carp problem and other ways of improving the health of the River Murray we thought it was a great opportunity to bring the two together,” Ms Peart said.
One of the speakers at the forum will be talking about research being done on the potential use of the carp-killing virus, Cyprinid herpesvirus 3.
Testing in the high-security Fish Diseases Laboratory at Geelong has shown the virus does kill carp quickly, but research is continuing on its suitability and safety for Australian conditions and the possible impacts of its release in the River Murray.
“Carp feed by sucking up mud, sifting through it for food, then spitting the mud back into the water and muddying the river,” Ms Peart said.
“That makes it difficult for native water plants to grow, because light can’t penetrate as well and, in turn, that has an impact on fish, birds, insects and other animals that use water plants for food and habitat,” she said.
“At the forum it will be outlined where the carp research work is at and the issues we need to consider before any potential release.”
The two-hour Fishing for the Future forum will also include talks about helping Murray Cod to breed, the science and secrets of golden perch, how environmental watering is helping native species and practical information on the safe handling of native fish species.

Fishing for the future will be held from midday to 2 pm on April 17. Limited seats are available and registrations can be made through the Mallee CMA (03) 5051 4377 or by email to reception@malleecma.com.au

The Catch a Carp Day runs from 9 am to 2 pm, and thanks to sponsors including Sunraysia Marine, every carp that is caught entitles the angler to an entry in the draw for one of many prizes.
Participants must have a valid Victorian fishing licence, and must be in attendance for the presentations at 2 pm to receive a prize.