Fishin' out the carp...

Headed to breakfast at the Canal Walk Cafe in Baldwinsville this morning, I saw signs advertising the upcoming carp tournament in Baldwinsville. This article about the historical introduction of carp into the Seneca River appeared in my inbox not long afterward. It's certainly interesting the way some entrepreneurial local sport fishermen have capitalized on this problematic fish. What I want to know is; when they catch the fish, do they keep them or do they throw them back? There are few good ways to remove invasive fish species from an ecosystem; fishing them out is a good start. Fishermen acting as predators for these fish would benefit the ecosystem of the Seneca River and Onondaga Lake (which also has carp; they go through the locks in the Seneca River): reducing the number of carp in the system reduces predation and competition with our native fish species, and hastens their return to Onondaga Lake. Keep on fishin'!