Commercial fishers removed 9.5 million pounds of invasive Asian carp from Kentucky waters in 2021, according to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources began the Asian Carp Harvest Program in 2013. The program allows commercial anglers targeting Asian carp to fish in previously restricted areas.According to the department, Asian carp are “detrimental to native species” in Kentucky.”They can out-compete native species for resources and some females are capable of producing over 1 million eggs annually, causing their numbers to grow at an alarming rate. Additionally, silver carp pose a danger to boaters due to the jumping behavior they exhibit when startled. As a result, this behavior can put them on a collision course with boaters causing injury to individuals and property,” the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources wrote on its website.2021 was a record-breaking year for removal as the 9.5 million pounds of Asian carp removed from Kentucky waters was the most harvested in all eight years of the program. Of that amount, 8.5 million pounds were harvested from Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. Take a look at the graph below to see how many pounds of Asian carp were harvested each year.The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources has partnered with state and federal agencies to monitor and detect Asian carp populations in the Ohio River. The Ohio River project hopes to reduce Asian carp population in the river by using targeted removal.
Commercial fishers removed 9.5 million pounds of invasive Asian carp from Kentucky waters in 2021, according to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources began the Asian Carp Harvest Program in 2013. The program allows commercial anglers targeting Asian carp to fish in previously restricted areas.
According to the department, Asian carp are “detrimental to native species” in Kentucky.
“They can out-compete native species for resources and some females are capable of producing over 1 million eggs annually, causing their numbers to grow at an alarming rate. Additionally, silver carp pose a danger to boaters due to the jumping behavior they exhibit when startled. As a result, this behavior can put them on a collision course with boaters causing injury to individuals and property,” the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources wrote on its website.
2021 was a record-breaking year for removal as the 9.5 million pounds of Asian carp removed from Kentucky waters was the most harvested in all eight years of the program. Of that amount, 8.5 million pounds were harvested from Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley.
Take a look at the graph below to see how many pounds of Asian carp were harvested each year.
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources has partnered with state and federal agencies to monitor and detect Asian carp populations in the Ohio River. The Ohio River project hopes to reduce Asian carp population in the river by using targeted removal.
