http://www.yankton.net/articles/2012/06/27/community/doc4fea806dd5629343137369.txt

 

S.D. Enacts Rule To Prevent Spread Of Asian Carp

By Andrew Atwal
andrew.atwal@yankton.net

A recent emergency rule put in place by the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GF&P) Commission prohibits the taking of bait in the East and West Vermillion Rivers and Firesteel Creek, below Lake Mitchell. The commission hopes the ruling will help stop the spread of Asian Carp in the state.

Commission members say the ruling was enacted because young Asian Carp are similar in appearance to a variety of different types of bait that anglers use. They hope the ruling will help alleviate the Asian Carp from spreading into other areas in South Dakota. The main objective of the ruling is to prevent any inadvertent transfer of Asian Carp by anglers.

Asian Carp were introduced into the United States in the 1970s. Bighead and Silver carp, most common in South Dakota, are currently found in bodies of water all across the country. Locally, they can be found in the James River, Missouri River below Gavins Point Dam, Big Sioux River and the East and West Vermillion rivers.

The Bighead and Silver carp can grow up to 60 pounds and reach four feet in length, and they only have small scales on their bodies. They also have low-set eyes and a large upturned mouth. One of their more distinguishable qualities is that they are known to jump out of the water when startled.

Asian Carp were first found in South Dakota just below Gavins Point Dam on the Missouri River in the late 1990s, spreading into tributaries of the Missouri River, including the James River, by the early 2000s.

John Lott, Chief of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources for the GF&P, talked about how quickly Asian Carp can spread and reproduce.

“Last year was very good for Asian Carp reproduction in South Dakota because of the high water levels from the flooding,” he said.

Lott added that Asian Carp move into spillways, and it becomes hard to differentiate them from common bait species.

“We realize the emergency ruling is affecting anglers,” he said. “However, it is a necessary step to help protect the integrity of resources and the health of fisheries in the area.”

Geno Adams, Fisheries Program Administrator for the GF&P, hopes the ruling will have a significant impact on the Asian Carp.

“I hope the ruling will inhibit the movement of Asian Carp,” he said. “This is a new and upcoming Aquatic Nuisance Species in South Dakota that is spreading incredibly rapidly.”

He noted that Asian Carp are such a big problem because they eat many of the same things that other young species also feed on. Because of this, they have a huge impact on other species’          populations.

The Silver and Big Head Carp are known to feed on Zooplankton in lakes and rivers, something that other fish species rely on for food.

“When the Asian Carp eat enough Zooplankton, it becomes unavailable to other fish species who have poor natural production,” Lott said. “This causes the population of Asian Carp to go up, and other species’ populations to go down.”

Lott added, once Asian Carp are introduced, they become very difficult to get rid of, not only because they can spread so rapidly, but also because they are very prolific reproducers — some female Asian Carp can have up to 4 million eggs, compared to up to 100,000 on a Walleye.

In addition to the ecological problems that Asian Carp present, they also pose an injury risk to citizens out on local bodies of water.

“Asian Carp are known to jump out of the water if they are startled,” Lott said. “This is a safety issue and can cause serious injury to people on boats and in the water.”

However, officials in South Dakota are hoping the steps being taken in the state will help to solve the problem.

Officials hope that, in addition to laws and regulations, information and education will help the problem.

“Knowing about the issue and its importance of stopping the spread of Asian Carp to children in schools and anglers is huge,” Lott said.

He added that each year has the potential to have strong production of Asian Carp.

Adams agreed, adding, “Education and outreach is huge to stop the spread.”

He noted the importace of angling in South Dakota.

“Angling is important to local economies,” he said. “Asian Carp can do a number on fish populations, so there are a lot of reasons to care about stopping them from spreading.”

Adams noted that other states have had to result to more desperate, and more costly, measures to deal with the problem. He’s hoping that steps being taken now will be enough to stop the Asian Carp from spreading any further in the state.

“Other states, including Illinois, are spending millions of dollars to stop the spread,” he said. “It is in the best interest of everyone in South Dakota not to have to do that.”

He went on to say the sport fishing industry in Illinois has taken a huge hit because of the Asian Carp, and hopes that does not happen in South Dakota.

“People should take this seriously,” Adams added.

Anglers who observe or capture a Silver or Bighead Carp outside of the James, Vermillion and Big Sioux Rivers, and below Gavins Point Dam, are encouraged to report their findings to the GF&P website or by calling their local GF&P office.

You can follow Andrew Atwal on Twitter at twitter.com/andrewatwal