The river runs through farmland in Kangaroo Valley and the carp infestation has united farmers, anglers and environmentalists in a campaign to eradicate the pest.

The fish are in plague proportions, according to the Department of Primary Industries, causing depletion of aquatic vegetation and muddying the river’s waters.

Kangaroo Valley dairy farmer Gavin Chittick’s property fronts about two kilometres of river. Like many famers in the region he has fenced off the river to help reduce bank erosion caused by cattle.

Now farmers are directing their attention to the carp problem.

“There are a number of ways we are looking at getting carp out of the river. A fishing competition is planned for March and there are two new scientific options down the track.

“Daughterless carp and a carp virus are being researched and from what I’ve heard the virus is very specific to carp.”

Mr Chittick said carp were no different to rabbits or cane toads and needed to be eradicated.

Fisheries NSW senior research scientist Dean Gilligan said despite being the southernmost place carp populate in NSW, the Shoalhaven had an abundance of the invasive species in its rivers.

The area where carp has become the most abundant is Kangaroo River in Kangaroo Valley.

“We have a station near Hampden Bridge at Kangaroo River and it has shown carp have become 10 times more abundant in the last 20 years,” Mr Gilligan said.

Mr Gilligan said they were known as “ecosystem engineers” because they caused significant problems that can drastically change the characteristics of the habitat.

“Carp are bottom feeders, which means they source food from underneath them, causing issues with the turbidity or muddiness of the water,” Mr Gilligan said. 

“They uproot plants and vegetation which consequently destroys the natural habitat and ultimately have no predators, increasing their chance of survival.” 

Test your skills while eradicating a pest

KANGAROO Valley is holding its first carp fishing competition on March 14-15.

Brad Harvey from Kangaroo Valley was inspired by his brother-in-law’s pike fishing contest in England.

“Carp is a pest and a fishing competition is a way of dealing with the problem while having a bit of fun as well.

“I do all sorts of different fishing but often find myself trying to catch carp,” he said.

Registration will be at the Kangaroo Valley Hotel from 8am. The competition will finish for lunch and a weigh-in.

One of the big advantages to local anglers is that about four kilometres of privately-owned river frontage will be opened up to the public.

“It’s fun to catch a carp, the small ones kick around and fight, while the bigger ones tend to head down deep into a hole and go under trees.

“They’re a good fighting fish, they play for quite a while,” Mr Harvey said.

For more information, phone Brad Harvey on 0405 490 072.