Cash in black carp for $100 and help invasive species research

LITTLE ROCK — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Illinois Department of Natural Resources are mapping the spread of invasive black carp throughout the Mississippi River Basin through a program called “Keep, Cool, Call.”  Arkansas anglers may participate in the program and earn $100 if they hook one of these fish by sharing the information about their catch.

According to Rachael Irby, invasive carp biologist for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, any angler can report the catch of a black carp in Arkansas to her and receive up to 10 payments per month, with each reward equaling $100.

“Commercial anglers and recreational anglers, including bowfishers, who happen to catch a black carp are eligible,” Irby said. “But they’ll need to follow the correct procedure to ensure they receive payment for their catch.”

Anyone who catches a fish that they believe to be a black carp should keep the fish, humanely dispatch it and place it on ice. Transporting a live invasive carp is illegal in Arkansas, so the fish must be dispatched before moving it. Make note of the location (preferably GPS coordinates), the type of fishing gear and bait used, and habitat conditions such as depth, water temperature and current conditions. Photos of the fish’s head and mouth and total length will be required for identification purposes as well. Send all materials to Irby at rachael.irby@agfc.ar.gov or call her at 501-517-3904 to submit your entry. Please keep the carp on ice or frozen so the AGFC can arrange pickup to analyze the fish.

“We have an invasive carp identification flyer available at www.agfc.com/ans to help differentiate between the four species of invasive carp in Arkansas,” Irby said. “Although the reward is only for the black carp, we still would like to know details about any other invasive carp caught in the state.”

The black carp tracking program originated in Illinois and has been very successful in documenting information about this elusive invasive species. Due to its success, “Keep, Cool, Call” has now expanded to include the entire Mississippi River Basin and its tributaries.

Visit www.agfc.com/ans for more information about aquatic nuisance species in Arkansas.

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CUTLINES:

FISH IN TANK
The USFWS and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources are offering $100 per fish to any black carp caught in Arkansas. USFWS photo courtesy Ryan Hagerty.

BLACK CARP
Black carp are one of four species of invasive carp that pose a threat to native fish populations in Arkansas. USFWS photo courtesy Kellie Hanser.

IDENTIFICATION POSTER
A handy identification poster is available to download at www.agfc.com/ans to help anglers verify which carp they’ve caught. AGFC image.