A STRAIN of deadly herpes virus that targets carp could soon be implemented in the Murray-Darling Basin, although local fishing experts remain skeptical of the control measure.
CSIRO senior research veterinarian Ken McColl said decades of trapping and netting had made “no substantial difference” to the Murray-Darling carp population.
“Unlike any other species these carp have a capacity to breed in such huge numbers. One female can lay a million eggs a year,” he said.
After seven years of research, Mr McColl and his team at the CSIRO Australian Animal Health Laboratory have found “absolutely no evidence” of the koi herpes virus causing disease in humans or any other organisms.
Mr McColl likened the koi herpes virus to the myxomatosis virus — a virus released in the 1950s which has proved a successful biological control measure for rabbits.
But local fishing experts aren’t convinced of the need for such an extreme step.
Andrew Ash from Hunter Marine said he’d be “nervous” about releasing a virus into the environment, while Swan Hill’s Rod McKenzie questioned the concept of “playing God”.
Mr McKenzie said the carp’s presence in the river system wasn’t completely negative.
“The only benefits I can see is that one, the cod have become accustomed to feeding on them and two, they’re a great learning tool for kids for fishing.”
According to Mr Ash, the native fish feed on the carp which is causing the local carp population to decline naturally.
“The ratio was about 60 to 1 [carp to native fish] before the black water,” he said.
“Now it’s probably about 40 to 1 and getting better.”
For more on this story, pick up a copy of Friday’s Guardian (January 15).
