Catch a Carp helps stop pests

Local fishers have helped clear a local waterway of most of its carp population after seven years of the Catch a Carp competition.

The successful event saw hundreds of keen fishers turn out at the Eagle Vale Pond since the competition first began in 2013, helping to significantly reduce the numbers of pest species from the local ecosystem.

Due to its success in clearing carp and the lack of fish caught at recent events, Catch a Carp will not go ahead this year.

Carp are known for their destructive bottom-feeding habits, which stir up sediments and muddy the water.

Keen local fishers caught 305 carp throughout the seven years of the project.

“Catch a Carp has been a fantastic community event which brought many people together to help our local environment and enjoy a bit of fishing,” Mayor George Brticevic said.

“Since the competition began there has been a sharp reduction in the number of carp at Eagle Vale Pond, with only six caught at last year’s event compared with a high of 97 in 2014,” Cr Brticevic said.

“We’re always looking for new ways to bring the community together to help our local environment, so stay tuned for announcements about some great new local events we have planned this year,” he said.

A new environmentally-focussed event is planned for later this year. Details will be announced soon.