Background & Risks of Asian Carp
Asian Carp
There are many species that are grouped as Asian Carp, which are in the minnow family Cyprindae. A few of these large minnows are common carp (Cyprinus carpio), goldfish (Carassius auratus), Crucian carp (Carassius carassius), grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus), bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) and silver carp (H. molitrix).
Asian carp were originally imported to the southern United States in the 1970s to help aquaculture and wastewater treatment facilities keep retention ponds clean and to provide fresh fish for human consumption.
Asian carp are capable of eating between 20 and 120 percent of their body weight each day. Bighead carp can weigh up to 100 pounds.
Potential Risks of Asian Carp
The potential migration of Asian carp through the Illinois River, Des Plaines River and Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS) is one risk facing the Great Lakes today.
Bighead and silver carp are voracious eaters. Like all planktivores, they eat from the bottom of the food chain, putting them in competition with native planktivores, juvenile fish and mussels.
It is hypothesized that silver carp may jump into the air as an evolved natural response to avoid predators in their native range in Asia. They may also jump when startled by boat motors and as a result of induced water pressure from boat hulls. They have been known to land in boats,
damage property, and injure people.
How you can help
• Alert your Department of Natural Resources if an Asian carp may have been observed in your waterways.
• Do not move live fish from one location to another. Some state laws prohibit the transport of live Asian carp.
• Never use wild-caught baitfish in waters other than where they came from.
• Know the difference between juvenile Asian carp and juvenile shad (Gizzard and Threadfin), which look nearly identical.
• Drain lake or river water from live wells and bilges before leaving any body of water.
The National Invasive Species Council
Meet The Invasive Species Challenge
US Fish and Wildlife Services
Protect Your Waters Website
US Environmental Protection Agency
Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee
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