Published: 2 May 2022 Updated: 14 February 2023

NCCP Final Report

The National Carp Control Plan is available on the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries website at https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/pests-diseases-weeds/pest-animals-and-weeds/national-carp-control-plan.

 

Technical papers

These technical papers are available on the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries website at https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/pests-diseases-weeds/pest-animals-and-weeds/national-carp-control-plan:

  1. Carp biocontrol background
  2. Epidemiology and release strategies 
  3. Carp biocontrol and water quality 
  4. Carp virus species specificity
  5. Potential socio-economic impacts of carp biocontrol
  6. NCCP implementation
  7. NCCP engagement report 
  8. NCCP Murray and Murrumbidgee case study
  9. NCCP Lachlan case study 

 

Planning investigations

Paper

Project number

Title

Planning investigations 1:
Carp questionnaire survey and community mapping tool

2018-112 NCCP: Carp questionnaire survey and community mapping tool - empowering the community to be part of the national solution to Carp

Planning investigations 2:
Biosecurity strategy for the koi (Cyprinus carpio) industry

2018-190 National Carp Control Plan - Biosecurity Strategy for the Koi (Cyprinus carpio) industry

Planning investigations 3:
Engineering options for the NCCP

2017-222 NCCP - Engineering Options for the National Carp Control Plan

Planning investigations 4:
NCCP Lachlan case study (in house) (refer to Technical Paper 9)

  This technical paper is available on the
Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries website.

Planning investigations 5:
Various NCCP operations case studies for the Murray and Murrumbidgee river systems (refer to Technical Paper 8)

2018-209 Various NCCP Operations case studies for the Mid Murray region, and Murray and Murrumbidgee river systems and GIS support for two other NCCP case studies (Lachlan and Loch 1 - Loch 3)

 

NCCP related projects

Research Paper number

Project number

Title

Research Paper 1
Preparing for Cyprinid herpesvirus 3: A carp biomass estimate for eastern Australia

2016-153

NCCP: Preparing for carp herpesvirus: a carp biomass estimate for eastern Australia

Research Paper 2
Population dynamics and carp biomass estimates for Australia

2018-120

NCCP: Population dynamics and Carp biomass estimates

Research Paper 3
Exploring genetic biocontrol options that could work synergistically with the carp virus

2017-148

NCCP: identifying synergistic genetic bio control options for Cyprinus carpio in Australia

Research Paper 4
Development of hydrological, ecological and epidemiological modelling

2016-170

NCCP: Development of hydrological, ecological and epidemiological modelling to inform a CyHV3 release strategy for the biocontrol of carp in the Murray Darling Basin

Research Paper 5
Essential studies on Cyprinid herpesvirus 3 (CyHV-3) prior to release of the virus in Australian waters

2017-135

NCCP: essential studies on cyprinid herpesvirus 3 (CyHV-3) prior to release of the virus in Australian waters

Research Paper 6
Evaluating the role of direct fish-to-fish contact on horizontal transmission of koi herpesvirus

2020-104

Will carp virus biocontrol be effective?

Research Paper 7
Understanding the genetics and genomics of carp strains and susceptibility to CyHV-3

2019-163

NCCP: Understanding the genetics and genomics of carp strains and susceptibility to CyHV-3

Research Paper 8
Review of carp control via commercial exploitation

2017-094

NCCP: Review of Carp control via commercial exploitation

Research Paper 9
Water-quality risk assessment of carp biocontrol for Australian waterways

2017-056

 

2017-055

NCCP: Investigation of nutrient interception pathways to enable circumvention of cyanobacterial blooms following carp mortality events

NCCP: Expanded modelling to determine anoxia risk in main river channel and shallow wetlands

Research Paper 10
Cyprinid herpesvirus 3 and its relevance to humans

2016-183

NCCP: Cyprinid herpesvirus 3 and its relevance to humans.

Research Paper 11
Defining best practice for viral susceptibility testing of non-target species to Cyprinid herpesvirus 3

2017-127

NCCP: defining best practice for viral susceptibility testing of non-target species to Cyprinid herpesvirus 3 -a discussion paper based on systematic quantitative literature reviews

Research Paper 12
Determination of the susceptibility of Silver Perch, Murray Cod and Rainbow Trout to infection with CyHV-3

2019-176

NCCP: Determination of the susceptibility of silver perch, Murray cod and rainbow trout to infection with CyHV-3

Research Paper 13
The socio-economic impact assessment and stakeholder engagement & Appendices 1-9

2018-189

 

2016-152

NCCP: Socio-economic impact assessment and stakeholder engagement
 

NCCP: Building community support for carp control: understanding community and stakeholder attitudes and assessing social effects

Research Paper 14
Risks, costs and water industry response

2017-237

NCCP: Risks, costs, and water industry response

Research Paper 15
Social, economic and ecological risk assessment for use of Cyprinid herpesvirus 3 (CyHV-3) for carp biocontrol in Australia:

  • Volume 1: Review of the literature, outbreak scenarios, exposure pathways and case studies
  • Volume 2: Assessment of risks to Matters of National Environmental Significance
  • Volume 3: Assessment of social risks

2017-054

NCCP: Social, economic, and ecological risk assessment for use of Cyprinid herpesvirus 3 (CyHV-3) for carp biocontrol in Australia

Research Paper 16
Development of strategies to optimise release and clean-up strategies

2016-158

NCCP: Development of strategies to optimise release and clean up strategies underpinning possible use of herpesvirus 3 (CyHV-3) for carp biocontrol in Australia

Research Paper 17
Assessment of options for utilisation of virus-infected carp

2016-180

NCCP: assessment of options for utilisation of virus infected carp

Research Paper 18
The likely medium- to long-term ecological outcomes of major carp population reductions

2017-104

NCCP: the likely medium- to long-term ecological outcomes of major carp population reductions

Research Paper 19
Expected benefits and costs associated with carp control in the Murray-Darling Basin

2016-132

NCCP: Impact Costs of Carp & Expected Benefits and Costs Associated with Carp Control in the Murray Darling Basin

 

Informing the plan

 

A researcher presents on their preliminary work at an NCCP science workshop in Canberra, ACT.
A researcher presents on their preliminary work at an NCCP science workshop in Canberra, ACT.

 

The National Carp Control Plan will provide recommendations about the feasibility of and operational advice for implementation of the carp virus as a means of biocontrol for carp in Australia. The plan will use the best available science to develop a smart, safe approach to controlling carp impacts by working with and incorporating feedback from the key affected stakeholders.

The focus of the NCCP is biological control using a species-specific virus (the carp virus). While previous research provides important information about this virus, it was only the first part of the puzzle, and more research was required before recommendation could be made on whether the virus could and should be used as a biological control agent to control carp in Australia. 

No decision has been made on the carp virus – the NCCP is a process, not a foregone conclusion. The carp virus (Cyprinid herpesvirus-3: CyHV-3, sometimes referred to overseas as KHV) has not been released in Australia. The NCCP will be used to inform a decision by governments about whether to proceed with additional research, legislate approvals, engagement and planning.

Proposing to introduce any biocontrol agent into Australia raises issues and concerns for some people, including some scientists and natural resource managers. The research sought to understand the carp virus efficacy and the risks and potential benefits of using the carp virus in Australian conditions. 

These questions were explored by investing in research about the environment, the community and to inform possible release.

Under the NCCP, research projects were delivered by universities, CSIRO and other experts. These projects were overseen by a separate panel of scientists called the Scientific Advisory Group (SAG), who provided advice to assist in prioritising, managing and reviewing critical research . Research under the NCCP also underwent further external peer review to ensure quality.

The three other expert groups worked to ensure that recommendations made under the plan are based on the best available science and community consultation, compliant with relevant legislation and operationally achievable (i.e. practical in the real world).

Dr Sanjina Upadhyay from the University of Adelaide processes water samples near Berri, S.A.
Dr Sanjina Upadhyay from the University of Adelaide processes water samples near Berri, S.A.

 

Previous research into carp control 

Over the past few decades, research on carp biology, impacts, and control tools and strategies has primarily been undertaken and coordinated by the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre, and the preceding Pest Animal Control Cooperative Research Centre.

There is a range of methods for controlling carp that people have trialed, including traps, nets, electrofishing, angling, genetic engineering and chemicals. Unfortunately, these methods only work in small areas and for short periods. Until recently, a feasible method for tackling carp on a large scale over long periods in connected waterways hadn’t been identified.

However, in 2006, CSIRO’s Australian Animal Health Laboratory (now the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness) began assessing the carp virus’ potential as a biocontrol agent. This work involved testing a series of native Australian fishes, rainbow trout and model species of reptiles, crustaceans, amphibians, birds and mammals for susceptibility to disease caused by carp herpesvirus (McColl et al., 2016).

The results showed carp herpesvirus is a potentially-viable and effective biological control agent for carp in Australia. It is species-specific and could potentially control carp across their range. However, as with previous viral biocontrol agents (e.g. rabbits), optimal carp population reductions would be obtained by deploying the carp virus in conjunction with other control measures (McColl et al., 2016a), most promisingly including a sex-biasing construct (Thresher et al., 2014) and manual removal.

While the focus of the NCCP was to investigate the feasibility of using the carp virus as a biocontrol method, the importance of considering it as the foundation of a suite of control measures is acknowledged.
 

A team from the Arthur Rylah Institute used electrofishing to remove carp downstream from Yarrawonga Weir, May 2017. Images: Tom Rayner.
A team from the Arthur Rylah Institute used electrofishing to remove carp downstream from Yarrawonga Weir, May 2017. Images: Tom Rayner.

 

The results showed carp herpesvirus is a potentially-viable and effective biological control agent for carp in Australia. It is species-specific and could potentially control carp across their range. However, as with previous viral biocontrol agents (e.g. rabbits), optimal carp population reductions would be obtained by deploying the carp virus in conjunction with other control measures (McColl et al., 2016a), most promisingly including a sex-biasing construct (Thresher et al., 2014) and manual removal.

While the focus of the NCCP was to investigate the feasibility of using the carp virus as a biocontrol method, the importance of considering it as the foundation of a suite of control measures is acknowledged.

Check out the reading list for more information.