Invasive carp include four invasive species—silver, bighead, grass, and black carp—that were brought to the United States in the 1970s to help maintain ponds used for aquaculture. Introduced by flooding of aquaculture facilities in Arkansas, invasive carp have expanded their range throughout the Mississippi River basin into the Tennessee and Cumberland River systems. The species rapidly spread on its own and can be inadvertently spread by anglers mistaking them for baitfish.
Invasive carp reproduce quickly, have no natural predators, devour food sources native fish need, and devastate habitats. Invasive carp, which can grow up to 100 pounds, also threaten boaters’ safety. Silver carp are known to jump when disturbed by boats, striking passengers and causing serious injuries.
If left unaddressed, invasive carp will continue to spread throughout our waterways. As the species’ range expands, so will their destruction of native aquatic wildlife–from endangered mussels to bass and other sport fish. Invasive carp degrade the quality of waters, making them less attractive to the anglers that help fuel countless local economies across the state.
And as anglers stop buying licenses, the state wildlife agency loses critical funding for wildlife conservation of all types. Recreational boaters are also driven away by the threat of jumping silver carp, further damaging local economies.
Elected officials at the state and federal levels have collaborated with Tennessee Wildlife Federation to help shape and pass bills and budget requests design to blocking and tackling the threat. Acoustic barriers are needed at key locations to block the movement of invasive carp. And incentives for commercial fishermen are needed to get more tackle in the water to reduce the numbers of invasive carp.
But a greater response is needed from all sectors to meet this challenge. We must continue to ask our state and federal leaders to provide the tools and increased funding needed to block and remove invasive carp from our waters. Individuals can also take the Stop Invasive Carp Pledge to do their part to report and slow down this damaging invasive species.
These big ones should have never gotten away
Knoxville News Sentinel
Asian carp fishing method being tested in KY
Waterways Journal
A menace to fish and humans
The Farragut Press
Asian carp are not the only aquatic invaders in Tennessee
News Channel 9
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Kate Hill
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Kate Hill2015-07-10 15:53:522019-07-03 09:31:20Asian Carp — A Big Fish Problem in TennesseeAdditional Media Coverage
Tennessee lawmakers call for action
News Channel 9
How Asian carp became an invasive nightmare
Clarksville Leaf Chronicle
Federation led effort to securing $25M to fight Asian carp
Tennessee Wildlife Federation
Tennessee’s game fish on the line with Asian carp invasion
Fox 17
Fish fence being tested to stop Asian carp
ABC News
Funding increase for Asian carp not matched in the House
Chattanooga Times Free Press
Sen. Alexander proposes $14 million to fight Asian carp
The Tennessean
Illinois efforts lead to reduction in Asian carp
Rockford Register Star
Stunboats make Asian carp fly at Barkley Dam
Nashville Public Radio
Kustoff Rails Against Setback on Asian carp Funding
WENK WTPR
Local Anglers and the Federation Wage War on carp
Tennessee Ledger
Federation Provides Insight on Asian carp
Cityview Magazine
Brooks is fighting the Asian carp’s invasion of the Tennessee River
Alabama Political Reporter
New Fishing Rules Target Spreading Asian Carp
Kingsport Times-News
TWRA gives away nets to control Asian carp
News Channel 9, ABC
State officials warn of invasive species threat
The Herald News
Watch: How Illinois Fishermen Turned the Invasive Asian Carp Business Model
Eater
Asian Carp Deterrent To Be Tested At Kentucky’s Barkley Dam
Coastal Angler Magazine
New Asian Carp Policy Brief
UT’s Baker Center for Public Policy
Electric Barrier Protects Iowa Great Lakes From Invasive Fish
Iowa Public Radio
State Asks Fishermen to Help Fight Back
Nashville Public Radio
Lawmaker Joins Bill Dance in Effort to Rid Waters of Asian Carp
Memphis ABC 24
Asian Carp Confirmed in Southeast Tennessee
Chattanooga Times Free Press
Silver carp
Silver carp – This species of Asian carp eats microscopic algae and zooplankton. They are problematic for the same reasons as mentioned for the bighead carp. They compete for food and space with our native species. In addition, when silver carp are startled they have a tendency to leap out of the water and can jump as high as eight feet. Therefore, they are even more problematic because of the potential to injure boaters, jet skiers, and water skiers. Silver carp can grow as large as 60 pounds. In the Tennessee River, Silver carp are most abundant in Kentucky Reservoir, with an emerging population in Pickwick Reservoir as well. The most upstream report of silver carp on the Tennessee River was Wheeler Reservoir in Decatur, Alabama. On the Cumberland River, they have been observed as far upstream as Cordell Hull Dam.
Bighead carp
Bighead carp – This species of Asian carp consume microscopic zooplankton. Zooplankton is an important part of the diet for many native fish such as shad, buffalo, and paddlefish. Larval sport fish such as crappie, bass, and bluegill also depend upon zooplankton in their early life stage. Bighead carp are problematic because they compete with our native species of fish for food and space. Bighead carp can grow as large as 100 pounds. This species is thought to be most abundant in the lower reservoirs of the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers, but individuals have been observed as far upstream as Nickajack Reservoir.
Grass carp
Grass carp – Grass carp, also known as White Amur, eat aquatic vegetation. This species was introduced into the U.S. to control excess aquatic vegetation (weeds) in commercial catfish ponds. Grass carp are a concern because they eat many types of aquatic vegetation and much of this vegetation provides excellent cover for a variety of sport fish such as largemouth bass, crappie, and bluegill. Many species of aquatic vegetation also provide food for waterfowl. Reproductively sterile grass carp are commonly used to manage aquatic vegetation in small lakes and are legal to stock in private lakes and ponds as long as they are sterile (triploid). Grass carp can reach sizes in excess of 80 pounds. Grass carp are increasingly a cause of concern because recent testing of grass carp in wild populations has revealed that many of these fish are not the sterile variety, and so they can and likely have been reproducing when the conditions are right.
Black carp
Black carp – This species of Asian carp eats snails and mussels. It was brought into the U.S. to control snails in commercial catfish ponds. Snails serve as a host for parasitic worms that get into fish flesh thus making catfish meat unappealing. Eliminating the snails eliminates the parasitic worms. Black carp are problematic because they could eat the many species of snails and mussels that are native to Tennessee. A 70 pound black carp was caught by a commercial fisherman in the mouth of the Obion River on the Mississippi River in 2012. Until recently black carp had only been reported in the Mississippi River. Since 2017 there have been a few documented catches of black carp in Barkley and Kentucky reservoirs.
Photos by Ryan Hagerty/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
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