A Petition to Recognise Cyprinus carpio (The common, mirror, fully scaled mirror, linear and leather carp) as a Non-invasive Fish in Indiana

Cyprinus carpio was supposedly first introduced into the United States in New York during the 1830's while others report the first carp were brought into California in the early 1870’s. In 1871 the U.S. Congress authorized President Ulysses S. Grant to appoint the U.S. Fish Commission to oversee the nation's fisheries interests.

Among the first tasks was to consider what species to introduce to bolster the nations supply of food fishes. By 1874 the commission after long study issued a report entitled "Fishes Especially worthy of Cultivation" It went on to say that no other species except the carp, promises so great a return in limited waters. Cited were advantages over such fish as black bass, trout, grayling and others. In 1876 the commission enumerated other good qualities such as high fecundity (a count of ripe eggs in the female fish), adaptability to artificial propagation, hardiness of growth, adaptability to environmental conditions unfavorable to equally palatable species, rapid growth, harmlessness in relation to fish of other species, ability to populate waters to it's greatest extent, and fine table qualities.

Within several years many states were involved in the propagation and stocking of millions of carp. The Ohio State Fish Commission stocked tributaries of Lake Erie. Every major river in Illinois was stocked. Fish rescue missions from 1890-1920 conducted by various states and the US fish Commission stocked hundreds of lakes and rivers, particularly into the Midwestern region of the US. In a few short years the effort to introduce the resource of carp had been successful. By 1897 the Commission discontinued the stocking because carp had been distributed nearly everywhere and many states assumed the task of propagation and stocking of carp.

History demonstrates that the federal and state governments of the US undertook a massive effort to install the carp in all of our waters from coast to coast in an effort that no other country has ever embarked upon. History also indicates that American anglers in great numbers lead the world today in the history of carp angling since the earliest turn of the century.

Generations of anglers have enjoyed the carp as a sport or food fish. History also indicates that the carp found in our many waters did not escape the ponds of long ago carp farmers, as the myth is told, but were placed carefully for our angling benefit by thoughtful government agencies.

Is Cyprinus carpio still an invasive species today? Federal and state government agencies and conservation groups do continue to list the common carp among invasive species, and the fish remains disreputable among a majority of anglers. Fishermen should ask themselves if they’ve ever chased brown trout in the U.S. If so, they’ve fished for and admired a species that came from Europe and is not native to North America – an invasive species. The National Park Service notes that native species can be invasive also.

Consider largemouth bass in California and Mexico, smallmouth bass in Oregon, walleye pike in South Dakota, northern pike in Colorado, salmon in the Great Lakes, and so on. These are examples of enormously popular sport fish enthusiastically pursued in waters outside their native ranges – invasive species.

These hard to ignore facts dictates that Cyprinus carpio is not an invasive species anymore but a deliberately introduced fish that has been swimming in our lakes, rivers and streams for close to 181 years. This should move them into a classification of a non-invasive fish. How can Cyprinus carpio be considered invasive when they can be found in almost All Indiana waters already. They were here before us and will be here for decades to come.

If you agree that Cyprinus carpio and its sub-species should be removed from the Indiana Aquatics Invasive Species list, then please make your opinion known by signing this petition. When complete, this petition will be delivered to the Indiana Natural Resources Commission and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Fish and Wildlife Department for their consideration.