Carp in Australia
By: Paul Humphries, Katherine Doyle
The evolution, spread and significance of carp, and its problematic proliferation in Australia.
Throughout much of the world, the common carp, Cyprinus carpio, is prized as an easily cultured, nutritious and tasty fish. It also features in a hugely popular fishery, especially in the UK, Europe and the USA. Koi, an ornamental type of carp, is revered by millions for its beautiful colours and intricate patterns. But despite carp’s popularity elsewhere, it is almost universally despised in Australia. + Full description
Carp was originally introduced into Australia in the mid-1800s for ornament and angling, but since its escape into Gippsland and the Murray–Darling Basin, the fish has all but taken over our inland waterways, wreaking ecological havoc in our rivers, lakes and wetlands. In recent years, controversial methods, including a carp-killing virus, have been championed by some and maligned by others. Surprisingly perhaps, there still are carp enthusiasts in Australia, who fear what such a virus might do.
Carp in Australia tells the story of how and why one of our most hated species was brought to this country. It explores carp’s relatively recent spread throughout our largest inland river system, the Murray–Darling Basin, its impacts on freshwater ecosystems and the attempts to deal with the scourge. Readers are given key insights into the management challenges and possibilities in carp’s uncertain future in Australia. Is there hope for eradication, or is this fish here to stay?
- Short descriptionNews
Sales in Australia and New Zealand only.
Details
Paperback | March 2026 | $ 64.99ISBN: 9781486317738 | 240 pages | 245 x 170 mm
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
B&W photographs, Illustrations
Features
- A history of the evolution, spread and significance of common carp globally and how it became a candidate for introduction to Australia.
- The story of the many introductions of carp to Australia since the mid-1800s, focusing on the disastrous ‘escape’ of the Boolarra strain and its spread through south-eastern Australia and especially the Murray–Darling Basin.
- Description of the impacts of carp and the attempts to control, manage and in some cases eradicate carp from Australia.
- An assessment of whether we will ever get rid of carp from Australia.
Contents
ForewordPreface
Acknowledgements
Introduction
1 Origins of the common carp, Cyprinus carpio
2 Fish culture in Europe and the Carpocene
3 Acclimatisation: Its origins and motivations
4 The introduction of carp to Australia
5 Boolarra: A ‘carptastrophe’
6 Biology
7 The breaking storm
8 Impacts of carp in Australia
9 Carp in Tasmania: A success story
10 Carp control
11 Recreational fishing
12 Carp as ornamental fish
13 The future of carp in Australia
Appendix 1
References
Index
Authors
Paul Humphries is a river and fish ecologist with 40 years’ research experience in many parts of Australia and overseas. Paul co-edited Ecology of Australian Freshwater Fishes with Keith Walker and wrote The Life and Times of the Murray Cod.
Katherine Doyle is an aquatic ecologist with more than 15 years’ experience researching the ecology, management and restoration of freshwater and marine ecosystems. Her current research focuses on fisheries management at river infrastructure, such as hydropower and irrigation schemes, as well as on threatened and invasive fish species.
Related titles
