Grass Carp Management and Regulation in Kansas

Kansas has a long history of grass carp use as a tool for fish culture and fish population management. The author will review the history of grass carp use in Kansas with special emphasis on a recent move to place diploid grass carp on the Kansas Prohibited Species List. Triploid grass carp can still be used in Kansas.  The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism, developed a process to implement this regulatory change while minimizing the economic impact to the aquaculture industry in Kansas. Efforts are now directed at enforcing the new regulations that are designed to protect fish habitat and native species while still allowing this vegetation management tool to be used in public and private waters in Kansas.