Asian carps are introduced to North America for use as biological control in the aquaculture industry. The four species of Asian carp include Bighead, Black, Grass, and Silver carps.
Flooding in the southern United States in the 1970s and onward likely results in Asian carps moving beyond their contained environments into open freshwater systems. Adapting quickly to the natural environment, two of the species, Bighead and Silver carps (together termed “bigheaded carps”) begin moving northward through the Mississippi Basin.
Grass Carp are intentionally stocked in ponds and other waterbodies across the United States for vegetation control. Research on sterilization techniques for Grass Carp commences and by 1985, stocking of triploid fish (which are unable to reproduce) starts to be adopted by some states.
