$1M mooted for carp removal

Press, 4 May 1984, Page 19

$1M mooted for carp removal

PA Auckland One million dollars should be spent on eradicating Japanese koi carp from the Waikato River, the National Water and Soil Conservation organisation says. An experiment involving Chinese grass carp in the Waikato was recently postponed after mass escapes of the fish from drainage ditches, where they were used in experiments on weed control, into the river.

Wildlife groups had said that the Chinese fish threatened aquatic wildlife in the wet-land area, but Auckland anglers said Japanese koi carp were a bigger threat. The president of the Recreational Fishing council,

Mr John Giacon, said that the Water and Soil Conservation organisation had asked his council to survey means of getting rid of the Japanese carp. The koi had apparently escaped from a farmer’s pond into the river. The fish had been brought into the country by “fanciers” for aquariums and served no useful purpose. “They are banned as a noxious fish around the world,” he said. “They breed prolifically in New Zealand waters.” “We will have a clean Waikato River soon.” “What with grass carp and koi carp who knows what we’ll end up with,” Mr Giacon said.