MORE than 100 representatives from 40 community sectors attended the Victorian Fisheries Authority’s Murray-Darling Carp Action Summit at the Lake Nagambie Function Centre on April 30.
The summit reflected growing concern about the environmental impact of European carp across Australia’s inland waterways. In parts of the Murray-Darling Basin, carp account for up to 80-90 per cent of total fish biomass, with post-2022 flood estimates placing populations at around 375 million fish.
Led by Dr Siwan Lovett from the Australian River Restoration Centre, discussions focused on practical, coordinated solutions and the proposed creation of a Murray-Darling Action Alliance to strengthen national efforts.
Key priorities include stronger government leadership, evidence-based control measures such as carp herpesvirus trials, native fish restocking programs, carp abatement initiatives and better management of environmental water flows and wetlands.
Current measures include physical carp removal, exclusion barriers, recreational fishing initiatives and research into genetic technologies, though experts say broader coordinated action is needed to reduce carp numbers at scale.
The Hon. Bob Baldwin and Australian Fishing Trade Association members Steve Threlfall, Bill Classon, Steve Starling and Cassie Price attended the summit.
