Carp in Australia

1. Auflage 2026
ISBN: 978-1-041-26480-4
Verlag: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Buch, Englisch, 240 Seiten, Format (B × H): 178 mm x 254 mm

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.

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 inland waterways, wreaking ecological havoc in 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 their most hated species was brought to the country. It explores carp’s relatively recent spread throughout Australia's 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?

Zielgruppe

Academic and Professional Reference

Autoren/Hrsg.

Humphries, Paul

Doyle, Katherine

Fachgebiete

• Naturwissenschaften Biowissenschaften Tierkunde / Zoologie Tierethologie
• Naturwissenschaften Biowissenschaften Biowissenschaften Biowissenschaften, Biologie: Sachbuch, Naturführer
• Naturwissenschaften Biowissenschaften Biowissenschaften Ökologie
• Geowissenschaften Umweltwissenschaften Umweltschutz, Umwelterhaltung
• Geowissenschaften Geographie | Raumplanung Geographie: Sachbuch, Reise
• Geowissenschaften Umweltwissenschaften Biodiversität
• Naturwissenschaften Biowissenschaften Meeresbiologie
• Geowissenschaften Umweltwissenschaften Umweltwissenschaften
• Naturwissenschaften Biowissenschaften Biowissenschaften Meeres- und Süßwasserökologie
• Geowissenschaften Geologie Limnologie (Süßwasser)
• Sozialwissenschaften Sport | Tourismus | Freizeit Sport Fischerei, Jagd, Schießsport

Inhaltsverzeichnis

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

Über Autor(innen)

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 (CSIRO Publishing, 2013) and wrote The Life and Times of the Murray Cod (CSIRO Publishing, 2023).

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.