03-06-2012, 02:43 AM
The idea is to reduce the carp population to the point that reproduction cannot keep up with mortality. It is called a "tipping point". This is a phenomenon that was identified with several species in the ocean and has been documented to work with all fish species.
One of the Biologists from Utah State that consults with the June Sucker Recovery Program did the math and postulated that removing 5 million pounds of carp a year for 8 years ( or was it 8 million pounds over 5 years????) would put the carp at a tipping point so that the remaining carp would not be able to maintain the population. The project has been going now for two years and the Loy's have been hitting their targets both years. What will be interesting, will be as they reduce the population, will they be able to hit that target down the road.
Another problem is going to be what to do with them all as they are removed !! To date they have been dumping them on a farmer's field ( and the eagles have been getting their share also ) but that may come to an end as those fields get over fertilized. They are still looking for a way to process them into a usable product, but have not found one to date. Fish meal fertilizer seems to be the best bet, but no one has the bucks to set up a plant to process them.
I would expect that over the next few years, as they continue to reduce the population, we will see several things. 1) Fewer carp seen schooling up, rolling in the shallows, maybe even an increase in the water clarity. 2) Bigger average size as competition for food is lessened due to fewer numbers. 3) Bigger game fish as the biomass in the lake is reduced, more food for everyone. 4). It will also be harder for them to hit their target catch as the population is reduced. Those last few hundred thousand pounds will be difficult to catch !!
It will be interesting to see the process go forward. Now all we have to do is get them to change their minds about the last 1.5 miles of the Provo River !!!!
One of the Biologists from Utah State that consults with the June Sucker Recovery Program did the math and postulated that removing 5 million pounds of carp a year for 8 years ( or was it 8 million pounds over 5 years????) would put the carp at a tipping point so that the remaining carp would not be able to maintain the population. The project has been going now for two years and the Loy's have been hitting their targets both years. What will be interesting, will be as they reduce the population, will they be able to hit that target down the road.
Another problem is going to be what to do with them all as they are removed !! To date they have been dumping them on a farmer's field ( and the eagles have been getting their share also ) but that may come to an end as those fields get over fertilized. They are still looking for a way to process them into a usable product, but have not found one to date. Fish meal fertilizer seems to be the best bet, but no one has the bucks to set up a plant to process them.
I would expect that over the next few years, as they continue to reduce the population, we will see several things. 1) Fewer carp seen schooling up, rolling in the shallows, maybe even an increase in the water clarity. 2) Bigger average size as competition for food is lessened due to fewer numbers. 3) Bigger game fish as the biomass in the lake is reduced, more food for everyone. 4). It will also be harder for them to hit their target catch as the population is reduced. Those last few hundred thousand pounds will be difficult to catch !!
It will be interesting to see the process go forward. Now all we have to do is get them to change their minds about the last 1.5 miles of the Provo River !!!!