Invasive Asian carp caught in St. Lawrence River

On May 27 two commercial fishermen on the St. Lawrence River, in the Lanaudière region of Quebec, caught what has now been confirmed to be an invasive grass carp.

Grass carp

The grass carp is one of four species of the highly invasive Asian carp. The grass carp caught by fishermen Pierre Thériault and Gerald Boucher was a female, coming in at 29 kilograms. The Quebec Forests, Wildlife and Parks Ministry has confirmed the species of the catch.

Bighead carp

Native to eastern Asia, the grass carp feeds on plant life, has a voracious appetite, and could have dire effects on Ontario waterways and associated industries. “According to the Socio-Economic Impact Assessment conducted by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in 2014, if Asian carps become established in the Great Lakes, there will be major repercussions for both recreational and commercial industries,” said Brook Schryer, aquatic invasive species outreach liaison with the Ontario Invading Species Awareness Program.

“Losses are projected as high as eight billion dollars for Ontario’s economy by 2018 and over 170 billion dollars in twenty years [as of 2014 projections],” shared Schryer.

Silver carp

Common Carp

Anglers can help prevent the establishment and spread of this invasive species by learning to properly identify and report any catches of the four species of Asian carp: grass, bighead, black, and silver carp.

There are some key features to look for when differentiating between a common carp, which is not invasive, and the invasive species of Asian carp.

“The best way to differentiate an Asian carp from a common carp is looking at eye placement in relation to the mouth opening on the fish and the length of the dorsal (back) fin. On silver and bighead carp, the eyes are below the mouth opening, and on grass and black carp, the eyes are in line with the opening. This contrasts with common carp eyes, which are above the mouth opening. For the dorsal fin, Asian carp have a single, short dorsal fin, while the common carp’s dorsal runs the length of the fish,” says Schryer.

If you suspect you have caught an Asian carp, take photos of the fish, do not return it to the water and immediately contact the Invading Species Hotline at 1-800-563-7711, email [email protected] or click here for more information.