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Ireland McBrayer

Prof Jones

ENGL 1020

7 October 2019

How Asian Carp are a threat to native fish in Tennessee River

Asian carp is a term broadly used to describe three non-native carp species which

include; big head cap, grass carp and black carp “though the broader term, Asian carp, includes

three additional non-native carp species of Asian origin currently in North America: Bighead

Carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis), Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), and Black Carp

(Mylopharyngodon piceus).”(Charlebois pg 2 ). These fish are not just a threat to fishermen but

also to the native fish since they feed on the plankton and vegetation used by the native fish and

compete for the natural habitat, hence causing death of the native fish. Asian carps were

introduced to the United States in the early 1960’s, to control the algae blooms in the lakes, and

eventually they ended up in the Mississippi river, connecting to great lakes. The United States

fish and wildlife service has listed these fish as a harmful species due to the threat they pose to

the ecosystem and the fear that they will largely affect the lakes food web forcing the native fish

to compete for food with other species in the lake. That is why their behavior has largely been

monitored in order to establish ways that can help save the natural habitat of the native fish.

The four nonnative species have largely been monitored over the years in terms of how

they move and their behavior. Different technologies have been used which include metal tags

on their jaws, ear bones and acoustic tags. By using these methods one is able to know the
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movement of the fish since they are able to see the capture and release location. There is no

single method that can work without the application of other methods since, acoustic tags send

signals, jaw and ear tags give information about the capture and release date. Commercial

fishermen who capture the fish with the tags are able to remove them safely and send them back

to the researches for further analysis and in return they get a reward. These methods have proved

to be successful over the years since Charlebois Patrice states that “. Marybeth Brey and Ruairi

MacNamara (Southern Illinois University Carbondale) used this method to tag Silver and

Bighead Carp in the Illinois River near Starved Rock for their research.”

Asian carp being identified as nonnative have also been a threat since they can consume

up to 40% of body weight which is a huge impact to the ecosystem. Bighead and silver carp in

mainly consume phytoplankton and zooplankton, the food base for some of native fish,

freshwater mussels, snails, juvenile and grownup fish species. The grass carp are herbivorous

which means they only feed on aquatic vegetation and also flowers alongside the banks of lakes.

This competitive feeding behavior may cause unnecessary bank erosion, an increase in water

turbidity, a change of fish spawning grounds, wide swings in water temperature and oxygen

stages, a lack of vital fish habitat, or a reduction inside the meals base for organisms such as

waterfowl. Black carp can cause a widespread reduction of the native fish in local freshwater

mussel and snail populations, and can result in a decline of the organisms that depend upon

mollusks as their main source of meals, which are very useful to the native fish, turtles, birds,

and mammals. Besides their feeding behavior that harm habitats and lower important food

sources, Asian carp can also transmit sickness to local farmers that depend on fish as main

source of diet, and also other native fish populations. They threaten the economy by destroying

important commercial and recreation fisheries and also by posing danger to unsuspecting water
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visitors from different places. Silver carp spontaneously bounce from the water when they

experience a threat or hear loud noises which include a boat motor, hence destroying the boats.

Nonnative species also affect water quality, since water acts as a perfect vector for spread

of diseases. They damage the ecology, and also cause economical losses especially to the

commercial farmers and also costs incurred by the government in order to sustain the native fish.

Most of these nonnative fish carry nonnative parasites which when ingested can cause population

reduction of the native fish due to death. McCormick, Glen, & Sheri’s shows us how the

nonnative species affect both the physical and biological disruptions of the aquatic systems,

which include transmission of parasites and pathogens. Different programs have been developed

in order to address these issues which include conducting research on native species, monitoring

them and also public education, which is very important.

The nonnative species were able to find their way to the Tennessee waters due to the

floods experienced in the Mississippi river. The four different species which were bought from

china in the early 1970’s were able to access the river via Kentucky and Barkley dams. All 4

Asian carp species were first found within the Mississippi River, where they are so plentiful.

The nonnative fish entered Reel foot Lake during excessive flows through its channels.

The fresh water ecosystem in the Tennessee River has largely been affected since the

black carp main source of food is the mollusks, hence endangering the population of the native

mussels and snail populations. Over the years some species have gone extinct and others have

been listed as endangered species by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. The black carp

can also be a danger to the community, since if they can consume close to one hundred pounds

that could be a tell-tale sign of danger to the community of the native species. Pace highlighted
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what was said by Frank, the chief of fisheries in the Tennessee wildlife resource agency that

"We're concerned about what a mussel-eating fish that gets to be 100 pounds could do to a

mussel community on the Tennessee River. Right now, they're in a low abundance, but they may

not stay that way. We just don't know."

The silver carp has also been migrating very fast and it’s just a mile from the Tennessee

River. The silver carp possess a great danger since it feeds on the plankton which floats just

above the water. This is a huge threat to the small native fish since they depend on the planktons

for their growth. The small native fish competes with the silver carp for food and to some extent,

the nonnative fish end up on feeding the small native fish which are important to the food system

of the Tennessee River. They largely reproduce causing overcrowding in the rivers forcing the

other fish out. Silver carp also causes harm to the boaters since they leap out of water knocking

the boats very hard, causing very serious damages

Millions of dollars have been spent by both the federal and state government to come up

with ways that can stop the spread on nonnative fish with extinction as the main goal. One of the

ways the government has used as stated earlier is the use of commercial fishermen to capture the

carps for a reward. This is done in order to eliminate the carps in the water ways. The carps in

smaller fish ponds have been able to be eliminated and ways of barring them from entering the

fish ponds have also been developed. ," Fiss said, "There are ongoing projects to do that in

Kentucky and other places now."

Tennessee wildlife and resource agency have warned against moving the nonnative carp

from one place to another or accidentally. It says that is illegal and no one should be found doing

that. That is why it has strongly condemned use of bait as a way of fishing. This message has
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been passed via their website and different media channels. They also did video by bill dance in

order to effectively communicate the message. If left alone, the nonnative fish may spread

upwards using the navigation locks of the Tennessee River. Once a lock opens in Tennessee

River these Asian carps will be able to navigate through and spread to fro the river. Tennessee

wildlife and resource authority have conducted a research in Ohio River in order to monitor the

movements of the Asian carp. The report is expected to be over by the year 2020 and also better

ways of eliminating the Asian carp will be developed but for now nearly two hundred Asian

carps have sonic tags which will be able to reveal how nonnative fish are using the areas they

occupy.

The numbers of the Asian carp ought to be reduced especially in areas where they are

already established by doing this the treat they pose to other aquatic animals and boaters will be

greatly reduced. If the population of the carp is reduced they will not be able to migrate upstream

that is why Tennessee wildlife and resource agency is encouraging harvesting of these nonnative

fish, though not so many people are fully aware of this. The absolute method that has worked

over the years is commercial fishing, although better ways are still being developed with the high

rise of technology usage.” While more high-tech solutions may eventually be developed, commercial

fishing is presently the most practical method to reduce the abundance of Asian carp in Tennessee

waters.” (TN.gov, 2019.) Although most private firms will not benefit from this method, since

they process the Asian carp making it fit for human consumption hence selling the carps. Now

they have to compete with the local fishermen to get the carps out of the water which is a good

way of controlling the Asian carps.

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The Tennessee fish and wildlife commission approved a program called Asian Carp

Harvest Incentive Program (ACHIP), worth five hundred thousand budgets, to deliver the

necessary mean for the harvest of the nonnative fish commercially. The commission

implemented the program in September 2018 and it has been able to recruit fish dealers who deal

with whole sales and also fifteen commercial fishermen who harvest the Asian carp. The

program is able to provide the necessary means of harvest by providing incentives to both the

commercial fishermen and the wholesale dealers which was a good move since millions and

millions of Asian carp have been able to be removed from the Tennessee river.” To date the

ACHIP program has provided the necessary funds for the removal of 1.9 million pounds of Asian carp

from the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers.” (TN.gov, 2019.)

Many fish consumers get scared especially when they know they are consuming a fish

named carp, since they don’t know much about the fish that is why Tennessee wildlife and

resource Agency has been serving the carps at events hosted annually. This creates awareness to

the consumers and if they find it amazing, the agency believes that there will be more demand of

the carps, which will result in an increase in the number of carps harvested. Tennessee wildlife

and resource agency has also been working to have the carps labeled in a manner that the

consumer will know why it’s important to purchase the carp, and its aid especially with the

aquatic ecosystem. Bow fishing has also been used by the agency as another to control the native

fish back in June 2018, it hosted a carp bow fishing tournament, which was very successful and

almost over five hundred fish were harvested.

The agency also monitors both the native fish and nonnative fish and by this they are able

to know the prey of the native fish such as bass and crappie. Also they will be able to establish
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the population of the prey and how they are organized. The agency has also been keen on

monitoring and observing Gizzard shad which are a native fish that mainly compete for food

with the Asian carp, by doing this they will be able to determine the impacts caused by the Asian

carps.

As much as keeping the Asian carp out of the great lakes will cost billions of dollars or

even take a decade before they are all eliminated, the process is necessary because nonnative fish

are a huge threat to the aquatic ecosystem by causing physical and biological interference. If not

monitored well, the native fish will become extinct in due time. Several ways that have been

used to eliminate the Asian carp have worked though better ways can still be achieved seeing we

are living an era that has better and improved technology.

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Works Cited:

Charlebois, Patrice, et al. "Education and Outreach on Asian Carp." College of Agriculture &

Natural Resources, 2017, www.canr.msu.edu/uploads/files/OHSU-TB-1511_Great-

Lakes-Sea-Grant-Network-Education-Outreach-Asian-Carp1.pdf

Frank H. McCormick, Glen C. Contreras, and Sheri L. Johnson. “Effects of Nonindigenous

Invasive Species on Water Quality and Quantity.” A Dynamic Invasive Species Research

Vision: Opportunities and Priorities 2009-29. P.111

Pace, Mark. "Invasive Carp Endanger Region's Freshwater Ecosystem, Recreational Water

Users." Timesfreepress.com,TimesFreePress,2 Apr. 2018,www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/st

ory/2018/apr/02/invasive-carp-heading-toward-chattanoogpose-r/467341/

Reeves, Andrew. Overrun: Dispatches from the Asian Carp Crisis. , 2019. Print.

Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency. "Asian Carp in Tennessee, Information and

Images." Tennessee State Government - TN.gov, 2019,

www.tn.gov/twra/wildlife/fish/asian-carp.html.
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