Carp in Australia

I have been made aware that some social media groups are advocating catch and release Carp Fishing.

This is the description on one of the pages

Catch & release Specimen Carp, This Page is for like minded CARP anglers in Australia, who fish for carp for sport

Mission

To educate everyone on the joys of carp fishing....

Description

1. Who know how to carp fish,
2. Enjoy carp fishing for the great sport that it is,
3. Share knowledge,
4. Share Photos,
5. Understand that carp are not pests

6. Carp Care
7.Find new venues
8. Find a syndicate water
9. Catch & Release

In Victoria It is an offence to release live carp (or any noxious species) into any waters. The maximum penalty (in court) is a fine of $14,084 for a first offence and $28,168 for a second offence.

Carp is a significant pest species in Australia, Carp have a very high reproductive rate, so they will quickly repopulate the area, Carp are very mobile.


 So if you want to maximise the effect you’ll have on the carp population, you should consider:

• Targeting spawning sites – by removing adults before they can spawn, you’ll maximise the impact on the next generation (you will need to discuss this with researchers from I&I NSW to help identify the location of known or potential spawning sites);
• Using a variety of methods, if possible, in the one location;
• Repeating control efforts over a period of time; and
• Combining carp control work with other actions to improve aquatic ecosystem health, for example revegetation, re-snagging, erosion control, restocking of native fish and community education.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Carp Fishing is something that should be encouraged at one end it’s a great species for kids to get involved in fishing, and at the other end is a great challenging angling sport, but regardless of your opinion on what damage Carp are or are not doing to our water ways, our native fish are really struggling in most areas, and need all the help they can get, and more importantly the law is the law.
  
  If you return Carp to the water in Victoria you are committing an offence!

some information on Carp
http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/fisheries/archive/freshwater-species/fn0014-carp-in-victoria