Post by Hardcorehunter on Mar 7, 2007 22:58:27 GMT -5
Pulled a few interesting facts. Carp havn't been in the USA that long. Alot to read but interesting. Maybe the snakehead will be the next invassive fish.
The exact location and year of introduction of common carp, Cyprinus carpio, is unknown, but sources from Fuller (1999) say the common carp came from Eurasia for use as a food fish. Sources report that the common carp was transported to the U.S. around 1831 from France into New York, into Connecticut in the 1840's, in 1872 from Germany into California, and in 1877 from Germany into several states in the U.S. The intentional release and escape of carp into several other water bodies has also helped this species to multiply in almost every state except Alaska since its introduction due to its high tolerance of poor water quality. The common carp can thrive in lakes, rivers, and streams and is a well-known bottom feeder that roots up vegetation and stirs up sediment on the bottom of water bodies. This creates poor water clarity and light penetration for other fish and vegetation growth. Common carp are very productive spawners and can overpopulate an area rapidly. Fishermen see the common carp as a nuisance fish because it depletes good fish habitat and crowds out sport fish.
Asian carp were introduced into the U.S. by fish farmers from Arkansas in the 1960's and 70's. They were and some still are used to control pest species of vegetation, algae, mollusks, and crustaceans. The black carp was also imported for use as a food fish and to contain the spread of parasitic trematodes found in snails at catfish farms.
Asian carp are in direct competition with fish, mussels, crayfish and other organisms for food.
Some species of Asian carp consume massive amounts of vegetation which depletes an area not only of food, but cover for other organisms.
The grass carp has been reported to eat 45 kg (99.2 lbs) of vegetation a day! Half of it is digested and the other half is expelled into the water which helps promote algal blooms. These algal blooms decrease oxygen levels and water clarity. Some of the species can eat one-half their body weight each day, and other species have been reported to eat two or three times their weight in plankton (microscopic plants and animals) each day.
Vegetation helps to keep the river sediment in place, so by removing the vegetation, the sediment is easily suspended in the water column, reducing clarity and quality.
Removing vegetation also affects waterfowl and other birds and mammals that feed on that vegetation.
Asian carp are a big nuisance to commercial fishermen, because they multiply so fast in an area. When fishermen try to bring up their nets for a certain species of fish, all they get are Asian carp and the net is too heavy to pull up. It has been reported that in some of the areas in the Mississippi River, below Cairo, Illinois, 90% of the biomass is Asian carp.
The black carp feeds on mussels and snails, and many threatened mollusk populations are already in grave danger.
Silver carp are a danger to boaters, other water recreationists, and fishery biologists because of their jumping ability. People have sustained broken bones and concussions.
Asian carp are also an invasive fish that may bring parasites and diseases to the U.S. that native fish do not have.
The exact location and year of introduction of common carp, Cyprinus carpio, is unknown, but sources from Fuller (1999) say the common carp came from Eurasia for use as a food fish. Sources report that the common carp was transported to the U.S. around 1831 from France into New York, into Connecticut in the 1840's, in 1872 from Germany into California, and in 1877 from Germany into several states in the U.S. The intentional release and escape of carp into several other water bodies has also helped this species to multiply in almost every state except Alaska since its introduction due to its high tolerance of poor water quality. The common carp can thrive in lakes, rivers, and streams and is a well-known bottom feeder that roots up vegetation and stirs up sediment on the bottom of water bodies. This creates poor water clarity and light penetration for other fish and vegetation growth. Common carp are very productive spawners and can overpopulate an area rapidly. Fishermen see the common carp as a nuisance fish because it depletes good fish habitat and crowds out sport fish.
Asian carp were introduced into the U.S. by fish farmers from Arkansas in the 1960's and 70's. They were and some still are used to control pest species of vegetation, algae, mollusks, and crustaceans. The black carp was also imported for use as a food fish and to contain the spread of parasitic trematodes found in snails at catfish farms.
Asian carp are in direct competition with fish, mussels, crayfish and other organisms for food.
Some species of Asian carp consume massive amounts of vegetation which depletes an area not only of food, but cover for other organisms.
The grass carp has been reported to eat 45 kg (99.2 lbs) of vegetation a day! Half of it is digested and the other half is expelled into the water which helps promote algal blooms. These algal blooms decrease oxygen levels and water clarity. Some of the species can eat one-half their body weight each day, and other species have been reported to eat two or three times their weight in plankton (microscopic plants and animals) each day.
Vegetation helps to keep the river sediment in place, so by removing the vegetation, the sediment is easily suspended in the water column, reducing clarity and quality.
Removing vegetation also affects waterfowl and other birds and mammals that feed on that vegetation.
Asian carp are a big nuisance to commercial fishermen, because they multiply so fast in an area. When fishermen try to bring up their nets for a certain species of fish, all they get are Asian carp and the net is too heavy to pull up. It has been reported that in some of the areas in the Mississippi River, below Cairo, Illinois, 90% of the biomass is Asian carp.
The black carp feeds on mussels and snails, and many threatened mollusk populations are already in grave danger.
Silver carp are a danger to boaters, other water recreationists, and fishery biologists because of their jumping ability. People have sustained broken bones and concussions.
Asian carp are also an invasive fish that may bring parasites and diseases to the U.S. that native fish do not have.