Taurine

Hi Folks a brief thought on this. The virus we are all talking about was first found in fish farms in Israel. It didn't just "happen". It arose as a result of a change in an old virus that affects other fish species; there are related viruses in channel catfish etc. What is really interesting is that sensitive techniques such as one called PCR, can pick it up in a variety of organisms such as molluscs etc so the virus can lurk in other species and, given it has become a carp-killer as a result of a recent minor change in an old virus, it is probable it will change again. The scary thing is that reasonable prospect of change means all Australian native fish are potentially at risk if (read WHEN) the virus changes again. It will be a very "brave" (to use the best "yes Prime Minister" parlance )politician, to introduce a virus that could, in its next guise, mutate again and kill our native fish species. The one bit of good news is that warmer water is not something the virus likes so not going to be too effective at least in Qld etc and wild strains of carp and those cross bred with goldfish are fairly resistant, so the shock-jock view that this will be the answer to the so-called carp problem is not particularly well-found. As most here will know the populist view is that carp are causes of all manner of environmental degradation, but the reality is that carp are hardy and can cope with slow flowing, poorly oxygenated waters whereas native fish species generally do not thrive...so perhaps a little thought needed on why places such as the Murray now lack historical flows that keep gravel beds clean etc and so lack spawning grounds for natives but provide good conditions for carp, might be in order. I think most here will agree that increased carp numbers are predominantly as a consequence of human-generated environmental degradation, and not the primary cause of the degradation. Curiously I have not managed to find a single scientific paper that demonstrates (rather than asserts with a lot of arm waving) that carp are causal of degradation, despite a very careful search of the research literature (and yes I am a scientist with degrees in zoology etc so am aware of this literature). So good luck with the petition. But I do think that reminding all our pollies that if they endorse this they will add their names to the list of humiliation of those who endorse what may turn out to be the introduction of a virus that could turn on our native species, especially when it next mutates, and turns on the stressed (and thus vulnerable) native species in our waterways. Keep up the good work and lets hope the virus does not end up on our shores!

Hi everyone, I'm an ex pom (25 years in Oz), getting back to my passion for carp fishing from my youth. Getting back in practise here in Melbourne at the moment, fishing places such as the Murray river (Yarrawonga) Lake Elidon, etc, but going to be moving back to Brisbane at the end of the year. Anyone in Brisbane interested in some serious carping later in the year. Would love to meet like minded individuals who would like to crack the Australian carp record, share ideas on how to adapt UK techniques to meet our very different conditions, etc; personal best in Aus at the moment just on 13 Kg, so a way to go! I am NOT your average Aussie carp hater (I subscribe to the view that carp are abundant here in Australia because we have mucked up the environmental conditions of our rivers so much that only carp now thrive...I suspect that will give me a few hate emails from those who can only echo the bogan viewpoint! that carp are somehow the spawn of the devil and responsible for all ills including the last global recession etc)! OK looking forward to a good discussion and hopefully connect with some like-minded folks and see if there is scope for a Brisbane carp group.