Using Grass Carp to Control Aquatic Plants
The grass carp, or white amur
(Ctenopharyngodon idella) is a large member of
the minnow family. Grass carp have been
intentionally released into the waterways of at
least 35 states as a means of biological aquatic
vegetation control.
•
•
•
•
Chara/Muskgrass
Watermilfoil
Bladderwort
Water-stargrass
They usually do not eat or control filamentous algae,
large-leaf pondweed, cattail, bulrush, arrowhead, burreed.
watershield, white waterlily and spatterdock.
Pond owners who wish to stock triploid grass carp in ponds of
5 acres or less must complete and submit a Triploid Grass
Carp Pond Owner Stocking Permit Application and pay a
permit fee to the PA Fish & Boat Commission. Ponds greater
than 5 acres and, in instances where there is an increased
potential of adverse environmental impacts, require additional
reports, details of which can be found on the permit
application.
Grass carp can only be purchased from approved triploid grass
carp dealers, which are listed on the Pa Fish & Boat
Commission website.
Triploid grass carp are one potential management strategy for
aquatic plants in your pond
If you are having issues with aquatic plant control in your
pond, you might consider introducing grass carp to your pond.
These fish, originally from Asia, have been imported to the
United States since the 1960's to intentionally release into our
waterways for aquatic plant control. In 1994, Pennsylvania
made it legal to import grass carp as long as they are the
triploid variety. This means they have been bred to have an
extra set of chromosomes and are therefore sterile. Triploid
grass carp are not able to reproduce and spread out of control.
Grass carp rely almost entirely on aquatic plants for their diet.
According to the PA Fish and Boat Commission, they prefer
to eat the following aquatic plants:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Pondweeds (Potamogeton species)
Common elodea
Coontail
Naiad
Duckweed
Watermeal
Contact Information
Bryan Swistock
Senior Extension Associate; Water Resources Coordinator
[email protected]
814-863-0194
Jennifer R Fetter
Extension Educator, Renewable Natural Resources
[email protected]
717-921-8803
Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences research and extension programs
are funded in part by Pennsylvania counties, the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Where trade names appear, no discrimination is intended, and no endorsement
by Penn State Extension is implied.
This publication is available in alternative media on request.
Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is
committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants
without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender
identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.
© The Pennsylvania State University 2017
Page 2
Using Grass Carp to Control Aquatic Plants