Carp (Cyprinus carpio) originated in China and spread throughout Asia and Europe as an ornamental and aquaculture species.
Carp were released into the wild in Australia on a number of occasions in the 1800s and 1900s but did not become widespread until a release of ‘Boolara’ strain carp from a fish farm into the Murray River near Mildura in 1964. The spread of carp throughout the Murray-Darling Basin coincided with widespread flooding in the early 1970s, but carp were also introduced to new localities, possibly through their use as bait.
Introduced carp are now the most abundant large freshwater fish in the Murray-Darling Basin and are the dominant species in many fish communities in south-eastern Australia.
Video created by Rob Taylor from the Wall Street Journal – original article can be found here.
Learn More 
- Carp in Australia - Carp (Cyprinus carpio) were first introduced to Australia more than 100 years ago. They are now widely established throughout the Murray-Darling Basin and can also be found in all states […]
- Carp herpesvirus: Frequently asked questions - The proposed release of a carp herpesvirus has raised many questions from the public around how it will work, will it work and what will happen with all the dead […]
- Fact-sheet: Pheromone attractants as a means of carp control - This factsheet explores chemical-based environmental and sensory attractants, which may potentially direct carp behaviour and movements
- Fact-sheet: Radio tracking as a support tool of carp control methods - This factsheet explores the use of radio telemetry in supporting carp control programs
- Fact-sheet: Introduction and distribution of carp in Australia - Natural range of carp The original range of carp (Cyprinus carpio) is from the Amur River in eastern China to eastern Europe, probably as far west as the Danube River. […]
- Fact-sheet: Impacts of carp in Australia - Are carp a genuine cause of environmental damage in Australia, or are they merely a symptom of the poor health of our inland waters that has resulted from other causes? […]
- Review of the literature on cyprinid herpesvirus 3 (CyHV-3) and its disease - A disease in carp that was associated with high mortality and that appeared to be of viral aetiology was first described in 1997 in Germany (Bretzinger et al, 1999), and […]
- Case study: Queensland carp fishing competitions - A case study on the effectiveness of carp fishing competitions in southern Queensland
Act
- Final report: Phase 3 of the carp herpesvirus project (CyHV-3) - Download the Report This report represents the culmination of work conducted in Phase 3 of a study to investigate the potential of Cyprinid herpesvirus 3 (CyHV-3; also known as […]
- Effectiveness of carp removal techniques: options for local governments and community groups - Report on a project comparing attributes for some of the techniques most commonly used to manage carp at a smaller scale
- Carp Acoustic Attractants and Repellents - Report on a study to determine if underwater sounds for attracting and repelling carp could be useful for management purposes
- Map pest fish online with FeralFishScan - The community can now record evidence of pest fish in their local area with FeralFishScan, a new interactive website to support a whole of catchment approach to pest fish management in local waterways.
- Case study: Native fish predators as a biological control method for carp - A case study on the the utility of using native fish predators in controlling carp
- Fact-sheet: Radio tracking as a support tool of carp control methods - This factsheet explores the use of radio telemetry in supporting carp control programs
- Rapid response to new fish incursions - Some introduced freshwater fish species have had devastating impacts on Australia’s native freshwater fish species and other aquatic life and ecosystems. Introduced or ‘alien’ fish usually have a high rate […]
- Fact-sheet: Pheromone attractants as a means of carp control - This factsheet explores chemical-based environmental and sensory attractants, which may potentially direct carp behaviour and movements
- A manual for carp control: The Tasmanian model - The Carp Management Program (CMP) was established within the Inland Fisheries Service (IFS) in 1995, in response to an incursion of Cyprinus carpio (carp) found in Lake Crescent, at Interlaken, […]
- Use of chemicals as poisons for pest fish control - Chemicals can be used to eradicate small, isolated populations of pest fish quickly (spot removal) and with a moderate cost, provided that the benefits clearly outweigh any harm to native […]
- Containment as a method for pest fish control - Containment and exclusion are critical actions in a rapid response to new pest fish incursions and in the ongoing management of established pest fish populations. Effective containment and exclusion limits […]
- Guidelines for planning carp fishing competitions - Many fishing and restocking clubs already host fishing competitions for native fish species and have a strong understanding of what is needed to successfully run these events. There are several […]
- Fact-sheet: Fishing as a carp control method - While fishing (commercial or recreational) is not an effective means of carp control in itself, it can be a valuable component of an integrated carp management program
- Guidelines to inform the selection and implementation of carp management options at wetland inlets: a test case for South Australia - The aim of these guidelines is not to assist in forming decisions about management strategies or prioritising wetland management objectives for incorporation into a wetland management plan, but to ensure […]
Connect
Find help in your region
Register with Feral Fish Scan
Case studies
- Case study: Using a wetland carp separation cage at Lake Bonney - A case study on the effects of using a wetland carp separation cage at Lake Bonney in South Australia
- Case study: Queensland carp fishing competitions - A case study on the effectiveness of carp fishing competitions in southern Queensland
- Case study: Native fish predators as a biological control method for carp - A case study on the the utility of using native fish predators in controlling carp
- Case study: Carp removal in Tasmania - A case study on eradication of carp from Tasmanian lakes
- Case study: Carp pheromone attractant trials - A case study on using carp pheromone attractant for carp control in NSW and Tasmania
- Case study: Carp spawning hotspots - Case study on the identification of carp spawning and recruitment hotspots in the Murray-Darling Basin