Invasive Species, Asian Carp

"Asian carp were imported into the U.S. in the 1970s to filter pond water in fish farms in Arkansas. Flooding allowed them to escape and establish reproducing populations in the wild by the early 1980s." They compete with native species for food and other resources, and are known to completely eliminate acquatic plants. "Reported impacts on native fishes include the reduction of bluegill, sunfish, smelt, bully, and pike populations. Grass carp are believed to impact waterfowl by reducing aquatic vegetation, an essential food source....They carry diseases and parasites which are transmittable to other fish and are believed to be the main vector for Asian tapeworms known to infect several fishes in Canada..." They are outcompeting native fish mostly in the mid-section of the U.S. Asian carp represent over 97% of the biomass in portions of the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers. Currently, bighead carp can be found in 23 states, silver carp in 17 states.