European carp to be exposed to herpes virus to cull numbers in the Murray

AUSTRALIA’S worst freshwater fish pest is facing “carp-ageddon” with plans to unleash a herpes virus into the River Murray to kill millions of European carp.

A European carp fish jumping out of the Murray River at Blanchetown, with a pelican in the background.

AUSTRALIA’S worst freshwater fish pest is facing “carp-ageddon” with plans to unleash a herpes virus into the River Murray to kill millions of European carp.

The federal Budget will contain a $15 million National Carp Control Plan, designed to destroy the fish by 2045.

It should kill thousands of carp within the first 24 hours of release and could create a sight millions of Australians have not seen in their lifetimes — clear water in the Murray.

The carp, a huge, vile fish that sucks up mud and spits it out, has been dubbed “the rabbit of the river’’.

Breeding in plague proportions along the River Murray, they are responsible for bringing native fish stocks to the brink of extinction.

Scientists at the CSIRO who have tested the koi herpes virus for nearly a decade on chickens, mice, frogs, turtles and water dragons insist the carp virus will not infect other fish, animals or humans using the River Murray.

And, while the government is at pains to not mention what the “carp control virus’’ actually is, the Sunday Mail can reveal it is an Indonesian strain of “carp herpes’’ that only affects European carp.

Science Minister Christopher Pyne confirmed he is teaming up with biosecurity warrior Barnaby Joyce to give herpes to millions of fish.

“We know that (this) works, we know it’s safe, now we need to plan the best way to roll it out,” Mr Pyne said.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said the impact of carp (pictured below) was up to $500 million a year.