Minnesota's Efforts to Prevent Grass Carp Establishment

Minnesota has invested heavily in limiting the impacts of bighead, black, grass, and silver carp through prevention efforts.  Minnesota DNR’s approach has been identifying population expansion pathways into the state and reducing the risk associated with them.  There are a variety of potential pathways of introduction and spread of invasive carp.  A national Asian Carp Working Group identified 22 pathways in their final report:  Management and Control Plan for Bighead, Black, Grass, and Silver Carps in the United States (Conover et al 2007).  After reviewing this report and other documentation, Minnesota identified several priority pathways of introduction into the state:  1) spread of wild populations via interstate waters; 2) spread via wild-caught baitfish; 3) importation; 4) incidental inclusion of invasive carp in shipments of farm-raised fish into the state; and 5) unauthorized releases by individuals.    Minnesota has and continues to address these pathways through state statute, investing in research, and implementation of physical projects.