Aquatic Weed Control using Grass Carp †

Carp, or white amur, have been used for aquatic vegetation control in Mississippi for the past two decades. These fish, used as a "biological control" for aquatic vegetation, can be effective and cost efficient when stocked at appropriate rates and when the problem-weed species is a plant preferred by carp. Although these fish are voracious herbivores, they exhibit preferences for the softer, low-fiber, highmoisture plants when given a choice. Even when there is no alternative, grass carp will not always provide adequate control of certain plants that they do not prefer to eat.