|
Not so European
Carp, Cyprinus carpio, are
often wrongly called European carp. They originated in central
Asia in an area characterised by hot summers, cold winters and low
rainfall. They were introduced to China, Japan and Italy in
ancient times. From Rome, carp spread to southern Europe. They
arrived in central Europe in the 12th century and
England in the 14th century. Today carp are one of the
most widely distributed freshwater fish on earth. They inhabit all
continents, except for polar regions and oceanic islands.
Considered a delicacy in parts of Europe and Asia, carp are the
most farmed and eaten fish species in the world. However, they are
regarded as pests in North America, Canada, Australia, South
Africa and New Zealand.
Carp downunder
Carp are believed to have been brought to Australia as early as
the 1850’s, during the time when ‘acclimatisation’ was till
fashionable and exotic species were released into our harsh
environment to make it more compatible with a European lifestyle.
The first documented release of carp was in 1907 when the fish was
introduced to Sydeny’s Prospect Reservoir, thus earning their
title, the Prospect strain.
During the 1960’s, carp illegally imported from Germany into
Victoria, escaped into the Murray River when farm dams they were
being cultivated in were flushed by floodwaters. The Boolara and
Koi strains are the most widespread and have the most impact in
Australia. At one site in the Bogan River, scientists found an
average of one carp for every square metre of river surface area.
Four strains of carp are known to exist in Australia – Boolara,
Yanco, Prospect and Koi.
|
|
Carp suck!
While carp may often be seen gulping at the surface of the water,
they are best adapted to feeding on the bottom of rivers and
lakes. Their ‘bugle’ mouth is used to suck invertebrates,
their favoured food, from vegetation and soft sediments. This is
strained and sorted from mouthfuls of inedible sediment by the
fish’s gill rakers and muscular soft palate. While carp will eat
both plants and animals, plants usually make up only a minor part
of their diet because their toothless jaws make it difficult to
chew this fibrous material. It is only very rarely that they may
take small fish. However, their bottom feeding habits can disturb
or dislodge aquatic vegetation.
Millions of eggs
Carp are prolific breeders, females can produce up to three
million eggs per kg of body weight by the time they are three to
four years old (about 350 mm). They can also breed twice a year.
Spawning generally takes place during spring or summer when water
temperatures are between 17 and 25 degrees C and there is a good
supply of submerged vegetation on which to lay eggs. The eggs,
which become sticky on contact with water, are laid in clumps on
vegetation, logs or other available surfaces where they are
fertilised externally by the male as they are released from the
female. The eggs hatch in a matter of days, depending on the water
temperature, into 6 mm fry which feed on zooplankton (tiny animals
that float in the water)
>>
Download fish cooking tips video
|
