AUSTRALIAN aquatic ecologists say the National Carp Control Plan (NCCP) falls short on safety and efficacy while calling for more research and funding before the deadline at the end of the year.
According to an article on the ABC website, researchers have been investigating whether a species-specific herpes virus, Cyprinid herpesvirus-3, could reduce numbers of European carp in the Australian waterways where the pest was detrimental to the native environment.
At the end of last year researchers were given a 12-month extension to analyse some of the research gaps identified.
CSIRO senior scientist, Heather McGinness, said a mass cull of carp could have devastating effects on native waterbirds if the virus was released at the wrong time or place.
When there is a big loss and a sudden loss of a certain fish species, waterbird populations can have big population crashes and failed breeding events,” Dr McGinness said.
Dr McGinness said if the virus was released during the breeding event of a particular bird species, it would result in a large number of chick deaths.
A decline in water quality resulting from tonnes of dead fish in the river has also been previously raised with the NCCP.
You can read the full article HERE.
