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Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio)
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is working
hard to stop the invasion of Asian carp into Minnesota waters.
Asian carp have two species that pose a large threat.
The bighead
carp can reach 100 lbs and eats so much it leaves nothing for
Minnesota's native species of fish. The silver carp is not as voracious
as the bighead carp, but pose a danger because they leap out of the
water when boats pass.
Bighead carp have been caught in the St. Croix River in
1994 and Lake Pepin in 2004 and just last months.
The DNR is trying to determine the best way to stop this
invasion.
One idea is revolves around building barriers of light, sound, bubbles
or electricity on waterways to keep the invasive fish moving upsteam
into Minnesota waters. However, this project isn't guaranteed to work
and would be extremely expensive.
Related:
The common carp, an Asian native,
is a member of the minnow family. Introduced
to Minnesota in 1883 as a source of food, it can grow to more than 50
pounds. It has sharp senses of smell, hearing, and
taste.
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here for color photo
Identification
General description: The large, big-scaled carp
has a light
gold color and has a long dorsal fin. It has two pairs of barbels
(whiskers) and a lipped mouth similar to a sucker.
Size: It's not unusual for carp to reach 30 or
more pounds.
The Minnesota record is 55 pounds, 5 ounces, caught
in Clearwater Lake
in Wright County in 1952.
Color: Carp are bronze to greenish with a light
underside. They have orange dorsal and pectoral fins.
Reproduction
In spring, after the water warms up, carp move upstream
in a river
or congregate in shallow, weedy lake water. Females lay large numbers
of eggs--up to 2 million at a time. The males fertilize eggs after the
females spread them about in the shallow water. Eggs hatch after
several days.
Food
Young carp eat mainly plant material, such as seeds.
Older ones prefer water insects, snails, fish eggs, and plant parts.
Predators
Although they're not considered good eating by most
Minnesotans,
carp are an important food source for many people. Worldwide, more than
200,000 tons are harvested each year. Small carp are eaten by many
predator fish such as walleye and northern pike.
Habitat and range
Carp live in lakes and rivers, marshes, and ponds
throughout
Minnesota. They are not too fussy about their habitat, but they prefer
weedy, shallow, warm areas. Carp tend to gather in small schools.
Population and management
Although European Americans introduced carp
intentionally to
Minnesota, today the DNR is trying to reduce populations and prevent
them from spreading to other lakes. It is illegal to transplant carp in
Minnesota or to use live carp for bait.
Fun facts
Carp feed by slurping in mud from the bottom of the lake
or river,
spitting out the muck, and eating the edible food, such as seeds and
insects. Because this disturbs the lake bottom and suspends mud and
nutrients, this feeding method can muddy up a lake or wetland. In
Europe this species is raised in ponds for food.
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