Colac Otway Shire Council removes 40 tonnes of dead carp from Victoria creek

The Colac Otway Shire Council removed approximately 40,000 kilograms of dead carp from Barongarook Creek in south-west Victoria.

The carp moved from Lake Colac into the creek to spawn during the breeding season but died in large numbers due to a lack of oxygen in the water. The council used a truck equipped with suction equipment to vacuum the carcasses from the waterway to reduce a strong odor affecting the surrounding area.

Local residents reported that the creek and nearby lake have been overrun by the invasive species since the 1960s. Doug McNeill, the shire's infrastructure and environment general manager, noted that the region had not seen a fish kill of this scale since 2009. The Victorian Fisheries Authority is currently researching long-term ways to manage the carp population.

Taylor Hunt, a recreational fishing manager for the authority, stated that while total eradication is difficult, officials hope to reduce the numbers to a level where they no longer impact the waterways. Potential methods include using screens to block carp from entering the creek, conducting mass-catch efforts during dry periods, or eventually using a carp virus that the CSIRO is currently testing.