There may be plenty of fish in the sea, but two fishermen in the Lanaudière region caught what may be the only Asian carp in the St. Lawrence River last week.
Pierre Thériault and Gerald Boucher, commercial fisherman from Lanoraie, reeled in the 29-kilogram invasive species on May 27.
"We really weren't sure what it was. It looked like a carp… it had the same colour, but it was huge! We could see it was different from the others," said Thériault.
Not long after contacting biologists from Quebec's Forests, Wildlife and Parks Ministry, it was confirmed that the fishermen's catch was a one-metre-long female grass carp, one of four Asian carp species.
It was probably between 15 and 30 years old, according to biologist Michel Legault.
The fish is native to east Asia and has been used in North America for consumption and management of aquatic vegetation.
According to preliminary analysis, the fish's belly was full of sterile eggs, probably due to its advanced age.
"For biologists, it's been a big surprise. It's as if they didn't want to see it here," said Boucher.
Boucher, who makes his living as a commercial fisherman, shared that sentiment of dread — and for good reason.
The Asian carp's ability to eat up to 20 per cent of its body weight in plankton each day and quick reproduction rates have made the highly invasive species a menace to native fish populations as far north at the Great Lakes.
"We actually thought the Asian carp was confined," said Legault. "But we know that in recent years the grass carp has been found in a small section of Lake Erie. And last summer, nine grass carp were caught in the Toronto area."
Now, Boucher fears the discovery may spell a disaster for local fish populations, "a bit like in the U.S."
"It's going to invade and destroy other fish habitats and everything. This is not good news in principle."
The discovery has forced Quebec's Forests, Wildlife and Parks Ministry to immediately roll out its plan to fight the invasive species, which will be headed by Legault.
The ministry will make use of $1.7 million over three years to try and detect the Asian carp in the river and educate commercial fishermen.
Quebec fishermen catch first Asian carp found in St. Lawrence River
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Originally Posted by awndray
