Asian Carp Still Threatens Middle Tennessee Waters

An invasive species of fish known as Asian Carp still threatens Middle Tennessee waters. Although the species mainly resides in West Tennessee, the TWRA has documented Asian Carp in Old Hickory Reservoir.

Mark Thurman is the Regional Fisheries Manager for TWRA.

“On the Cumberland River, they have been documented as far upstream as Old Hickory Reservoir,” Thurman said. “Which butts up against Cordell Hull. They are not as abundant in Old Hickory as they are in the downstream reaches.”

TWRA has documented four types of Asian Carp in Tennessee, including Bighead Carp, Silver Carp, Black Carp, and Grass Carp.

Asian Carp overtakes an ecosystem by overeating the algae and green foliage in the water.

Specifically, Silver Carp leap out of the water and endanger boaters as well.

Asain Carp commonly moves through dam navigation locks. Thurman said local reservoirs like Center Hill and Dale Hollow have less of a chance of invasion through the dam system.

“Really the only way they can get moved would be an angler to introduce them through a bait bucket introduction. Maybe they collected some small silver carp if they were present downstream and moved them,” Thurman said. “But we have laws in place related to being able to actually possess any of these species alive. That functions to limit that.”

Thurman said young Silver Carp look similar to another species called Gizzard Shad. Sometimes fishers can mistake carp for gizzard when baiting, Thurman said.

The TWRA tracks Asian Carp throughout the state in order to protect the native fish species and boaters. Thurman said the agency will continue to conduct research on the species.

The TWRA will also give incentives for harvesting Carp, Thurman said.

“We have a good commercial fishing industry in Tennessee. And we are working on some incentive programs to help promote the harvest of these fish,” Thruman said. “They are a good food source. They taste good and so we are working on that as a means, maybe long term, to limiting the abundance of the fish.”

Tennessee has over 120 species of fish in the rivers and lakes, Thurman said. Even with other invasive species in the lakes, the Asian Carp keeps the TWRA’s attention, Thurman said.

“We do have some non-native species that are in the mix in our rivers and reservoirs,” Thurman said. “But nothing like Asian Carp and the problem that these fish represent for us.”