9622

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9622
• Author: Schofield, P. J. and e. al.
• Title: Foreign Nonindigenous Carps and Minnows ‎(Cyprinidae)‎ in the United States - A Guide to their Identification, Distribution, and Biology.
• USFW Year: 2005.
• USFW - Doc Type: 2005-5041,
• Copyright Material: NO

that can quickly eliminate large volumes of vegetation
(Mitzner, 1978). Although some reports indicated that
removal of aquatic vegetation by Grass Carp was advan-
tageous for some game fishes (for example, Maceina
and others, 1991), such habitat modification could result
in habitat loss for native fishes, birds, and invertebrates
(Gasaway and Drda, 1977; Forester and Avault, 1978;
Ware and Gasaway, 1978; Laird and Page, 1996; Ross,
2001).

Native Distribution

The Grass Carp is native to rivers of eastern Asia,
from the Amur River of far eastern Russia and China
,
south to the West River of southern China (Shireman and
Smith, 1983; Li and Fang, 1990).

Grass Carp 37

U.S. Introductions

The Grass Carp was first brought into the U.S. in
1963, when it was imported by aquaculture facilities
in Alabama and Arkansas. Subsequently, it was widely
stocked for vegetation control (Courtenay and others,
1984; Fuller and others, 1999). Escapes from aqua-
culture facilities, intentional stocking (both legal and
illegal), and movement of introduced populations have
expanded its range. The species is now known from
almost every state, and is established in the Mississippi,
Missouri, and Ohio rivers, as well as the smaller Trinity
River (Texas).