Why are we stocking grass carp into our lakes and ponds at Cumberland Harbour? Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon Idella) are a non-native riverine fish from Asia, so why are we keeping them in our waterways? Aren’t non-native species supposed to be kept out of our country?
Well, the grass carp has an interesting ability to adapt to a wide range of environments. It is also one of the most cultured fish in the world, primarily for food. It can be sterilized and tested for sterility relatively easily. And most importantly it is a strict vegetarian.
The grass carp was introduced into the US in 1963 in Alabama and Arkansas, where research was conducted by the US Fish and Wildlife Department to use grass carp for aquatic weed control. It was determined that grass carp can be safely released into the environment for aquatic weed control under certain circumstances. These circumstances include the grass carp are sterilized, contained in the water body and not overstocked.
I have been stocking grass carp for over 25 years and have successfully controlled many invasive and exotic aquatic weeds without any unplanned breeding or harm to the environment. The grass carp can greatly reduce the use of chemicals and the cost of aquatic management. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission considers sterile grass carp to be the most cost effective means of controlling many aquatic weeds. This is why we use grass carp in Cumberland Harbor.