For private landholders

If you have carp in private ponds or farm dams, the only available option if you wish to eliminate them completely is draining and drying. Legal recreational fishing gear can also be used to remove individual carp, but is unlikely to have a significant effect on numbers for the effort involved.

Draining and drying

The best way to drain the dam is to siphon or pump the water onto pasture. Care needs to be taken not to drain carp-infested water from the dam into adjacent creeklines or rivers, either directly or indirectly (through runoff).The dam bed should be dried completely to eliminate eggs.

Keep in mind that draining could leave a large number of stranded and dying fish. It is the responsibility of the landholder to collect and dispose of all fish in a manner that is humane and prevents pollution of any land or waters.

Before proceeding, also consider that carp are likely to reinfest the dam if they are present upstream of the dam or in an adjacent water source used to fill the dam.

Careful consideration also must be given to the potential impact on native fish and other flora and fauna when implementing this method, especially in wetland areas and associated water bodies where acid sulphate soils are know to occur. Draining and drying may require the completion of a review of environmental factors (REF) and/or a permit; therefore local agencies must be consulted regarding any requirements before attempting this method.

Once a dam has been drained and dried it may be advisable to stock with suitable native fish which are endemic to the local area and legally available for sale.