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https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jan/13/carp-spawning-event-fills-murray-darling-flood-waters-with-masses-of-flailing-fish>
"In creeks, rivers and flood waters across the Murray-Darling Basin, an
uncountable and unfathomable number of invasive carp are turning waters into
bubbling masses of flapping and flailing fish.
“It’s quite a sight,” said Dr Matt Herring, an environment consultant. “I
walked through one of the schools of carp a few days ago and it’s the first
time I’ve trodden on fish with every step.”
European carp – an invasive species introduced more than 100 years ago – are
spawning and growing in huge numbers, putting smaller native fish under more
pressure as the invaders known as “river rabbits” stir up water, compete for
food and damage aquatic vegetation.
The chief executive of the New South Wales Irrigators’ Council, Claire Miller,
said this week the number of carp was “jaw-dropping”.
“It looks like the water is bubbling.”
Experts say while the carp boom is not good news for some native fish, there
will be some winners – including native water birds.
In parts of the basin around the Murrumbidgee flood plain in NSW, Herring had
seen an array of water birds feasting on the carp, which was also food for the
endangered Australasian bittern."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
