Where did Asian carp come from?
• Asian carp were imported from Asia in the 1970s for aquaculture purposes. • Asian carp have escaped aquaculture facilities into Midwestern rivers and streams. • Asian carp have been found in the Kansas, Missouri, Big Blue, and Wakarusa Rivers and Browning Oxbow. What do Asian carp look like? Each of the 3 species has unique characteristics. A brief description follows: • Bighead and silver carp have scaleless head; body scales are very small. • Adults may be more than 60 lbs. in weight and 4 ft. in length. • Bighead and silver carp have low-set eyes and a large upturned mouth without barbels. • Silver carp may jump out of the water when disturbed by boat motors. • Black carp have large scales, with a blackish brown body. Why are Asian carp a problem? • They directly compete with other fish for food resources. • Asian carp grow quickly and feed voraciously-can consume 40% of their bodyweight each day. • Silver carp pose physical danger to boaters because of their leaping ability. Anyo
