Questions remain about carp cull threats to river

The meeting was held between government representatives and SA and NSW commercial fishers as part of initial informal consultation before more official consultation is held next year.

But NSW fisherman Jack Henderson, Curlwaa, said he was disappointed by the lack of information provided at the meeting on how the virus would be released, how that would affect the river environment and whether local commercial fishers would be compensated.

He has a yabby and carp licence.

“I have been pushing for a government consultation meeting on the carp virus and information since early 2015, but they kept saying it was still early days in the process,” he said.

“But we are very concerned about the health of the river and the effects on the environment this new virus might have, and the threat it poses to fishing licences.

“Fishers should have been consulted with before the carp cull announcement was even made in May.

“Even at this meeting, they were asking us what the effects might be and to come up with ideas on the clean up process, but nobody attending the meeting knew fully about what the virus was because they hadn’t been given information on how it works.”

Mr Henderson said the most reoccurring questions at the meeting were about compensation, not just for those that catch and sell carp, but for those that use it as a cost-effective bait.

“The government also need to take into account the next two years of indecision, which has put some river and carp-dependent businesses on hold,” he said.

Mr Henderson said his biggest concern was how large masses of dead carp would impact the river system.

“If the virus went ahead, I don’t think they can fathom how big the clean-up job is going to be,” he said.

“They said carp make up 80 per cent of the river’s biomass? ?

“The 20 commercial river fishers won’t be able to handle the clean up in the short amount of time required before the fish start decomposing and affecting the water quality.

“This is also another area the government haven’t provided a great deal of information.

“All they keep doing is peddling the good points about what the virus will supposedly achieve, but omitting the adverse effects.

“I am all for eradicating carp but I am concerned about the dramatic shift in biomass, a massive case of decomposition, and changes in oxygen levels within the water, 

“They have said there will be studies into these concerns, but yet they continue to spruik to the public that the virus could be the silver bullet to eradicating carp.

“The perception that it can fix the problem is already out there and they haven’t even undertaken these studies yet as to whether it will work.

“I feel like it’s not just a matter of if, but when, because of how much money the federal government has already been spent on finding a solution.

“I hope we are not left to wear the consequences later.”

While consultation has already begun in earnest on the federal government's $15 million National Carp Control Plan, a draft plan on how the public’s feedback will be collected is set to be released in the new year.

NCCP coordinator Matt Barwick said that even though formal consultation had not yet begun in earnest on the federal government’s $15 million National Carp Control Plan, preliminary meetings had been held with some of the key interest groups, including commercial fishers fish carp entitlements from SA and NSW to share the scientific findingsalready delivered and discuss how the control plan could be undertaken.

“Through discussions to date with commercial fishers we have spoken with to date it is clear they are very passionate about the rivers that they work in,” he said.

“And while there is a general agreement that like others in the community, they would like to see carp impacts reduced, they are also concerned to ensure that their livelihoods are not compromised. Research and risk assessment activities that we will be undertaking as part of developing the National Carp Control Plan will help us to understand how to maximise benefits delivered from carp control, and manage any negative outcomes.

“It is important that we all recognise that this national initiative all about long-term healthier, more viable fish populations so the Australian community can enjoy the benefits from those. And in removing large volumes of carp from the system – if approval is given to use the carp virus – there is opportunity to explore  working with with commercial fishers in the subsequent clean up activities, which would be a win-win.”

Mr Barwick said consultation had only just commenced and would ramp up in the next two years.

A draft plan on how the public’s feedback will be collected is set to be released in the new year for comment.

“The consultation will play a vital role in the ultimate development of a National Carp Control Plan, which will articulatethe proposed approach to the release and clean up, building on robust research, risk assessment and stakeholder consultation conducted over the next two years, to enable an evidence-based decision to be made on whether to go forward,” he said.

“We will be working with all jurisdictions over coming months to work out what research needs to be done, and to explore policy considerations of this proposal as well.

“Success  in the clean-up will require a major coordinated effort from various levels of government, in partnership with private industry and community groups.

“Fortunately we have already seen a strong level of interest from the community that want to be involved because they can see it will improve the quality of their recreational fishing and improve the health of the waterway that they like to enjoy.”