Program overview

Published: 2 November 2022 Updated: 1 August 2023

About

Since July 2016, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) and Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) have undertaking a world-first program to assess the feasibility of using Cyprinid herpesvirus 3 (the carp virus) as a biological control agent for introduced common carp in Australia, as part of the National Carp Control Plan (NCCP). In January 2020, FRDC delivered its assessment for consideration by government.

It was determined that further research was required before FRDC could commence integrating all the peer reviewed research and planning investigations into a single document. This integration and the development of the NCCP was undertaken during 2022. The NCCP will help facilitate assessment and consideration of the carp virus’s potential as a biocontrol agent. FRDC has now completed integrating the data into the final NCCP and was submitted to the Australian Government at the end of September 2022 with final QA and web accessibility on the documents being undertaken before it is expected to be released in November 2022.

The NCCP is the first step of several important stages and governments will seek advice and consider the NCCP in detail before deciding on next steps. Other critical work needed to inform any further activity will likely include public consultation, legislative approvals and understanding future implementation requirements, but this will be up to the Australian Government to determine. As such, the timing on any decision on a carp biocontrol is still to be determined.

Clear water in a small spot free of carp, Northern Macquarie Marshes Nature Reserve 2011. Image: Tom Rayner.

Background

Carp are one of Australia’s most significant pest species. They were introduced to Australia in the mid-19^th century, and are now the dominant large-bodied fish in most Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) waterways. The species is also abundant in many eastern coastal rivers and isolated populations occur in Western Australia. Ecological impacts attributed to carp in Australian ecosystems include decreased water clarity, destruction of aquatic plants that provide food and habitat for native species, and food chain domination.

Biological control using Cyprinid herpesvirus-3 (CyHV-3, or ‘the carp virus’) offers the potential to control carp effectively over large areas. Before any decision to release a virus is made, it is important to investigate questions of feasibility:

Will biocontrol using the carp virus be effective?
What are the risks associated with carp biocontrol and how can they be managed?
How could carp biocontrol be implemented?

To address these questions, the National Carp Control Plan, funded by the Australian Government, coordinated a $10.37 million planning process, the most intensive investigation ever devoted to a biological control agent before its possible release.

Native species are set to benefit from carp control. This Murray cod has a research tag fitted. Image: Tom Rayner.

The National Coordinator Terms of Reference can be found here.

The task of addressing the feasibility questions was complex, given the scale of the project, the sheer biomass of carp in our waterways, the overlapping environmental, economic, social and cultural factors, and the amount of legislation carp control, touches.

To guide the process, an experts were enlisted including, the Science Advisory Group, the Policy Advisory Group and the Operations Working Group. The experts’ role was to provide advice, guide decision-making and oversee the NCCP. Working groups were established in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment’s Environment and Invasives Committee (formerly Invasive Plants and Animals Committee) to provide input into communication and engagement activities and contribute to development of the NCCP. FRDC provided secretarial support to these groups.

Science Advisory Group

The Science Advisory Group (SAG) provided scientific advice on knowledge gaps and key risks.

The SAG comprised nominated representatives from all affected states and territories with collective expertise in aquatic ecology, fish virology/epidemiology, water management, social science and human health.

The group was instrumental in developing the Strategic Research and Technology Plan (SRTP). While research priorities necessarily evolved during the life of the plan in response to the research, collaboration and advisory processes, the STRP provided the starting point for the NCCP to begin investigations to underpin informed decisions on carp control.

The group included members from the following organisations:

Queensland Dept. of Agriculture and Fisheries
CSIRO Australian Animal Health Laboratories
Primary Industries and Regions SA – SARDI Aquatic Sciences
NSW DPI Fisheries
Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
Arthur Rylah Institute
Office of Health Protection, Australian Government Dept. of Health
The University of Adelaide
ACT government
Panaquatic Health Solutions
University of Tasmania – Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies
Department of Science, Information Technology and Innovation
School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney
Tasmanian Inland Fisheries Service
Aquaculture and Aquatic Biosecurity Branch, Department of Fisheries WA

Operations Working Group

The Operations Working Group (OWG) comprised ‘state leads’ with expertise in water infrastructure, natural resources, agriculture, biosecurity, tourism, health and transport, plus relevant NCCP researchers.

The group provided planning support and contributed to the development of detailed strategies for a potential release of the carp virus and subsequent clean-up.

The group included members from the following organisations:

Commonwealth Environmental Water Office
Department of Industry, Innovation and Science
Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
Victorian Fisheries Authority
NSW Department of Primary Industries
Department of Primary Industries and Regions, South Australia
Freshwater Pest Fish, Biosecurity Queensland
ACT Government
Murray Darling Basin Authority
Elizabeth Macarthur Agriculture Institute

Policy Advisory Group

The Policy Advisory Group (PAG) provided policy and legislative advice.

The PAG comprised nominated representatives from all affected states and territories, with collective expertise in biosecurity, water and natural resource management, fisheries and environmental assessment.

A key task for the PAG has been identification of legislation relevant to carp control and co-ordination of approvals.

The role of the PAG has been taken over by Environment and Invasives Committee (formerly IPAC) which integrated NCCP planning and regulatory considerations into Australia's existing national biosecurity framework.

Communications Working Group

The Communications Working Group (CWG) comprised communication managers from environment and natural resource agencies and organisations with expertise in fisheries, pest management, river operations and extension.

The group contributed to the successful engagement of the Australian community about carp impacts and control.

The group included members from the following organisations: