Texas Anglers Hunt Invasive Carp for $100 Bounty

Wildlife officials in Texas have launched an expanded bounty program, now active in 27 states, to enlist anglers in catching invasive black carp. For each black carp caught, fishers can earn $100, with a monthly limit of 10. This initiative targets the destructive species before it can become established in Texas's Red River Basin ecosystem.

Native to Asia, black carp were introduced to the U.S. decades ago and have spread through parts of the Mississippi River basin, causing significant ecological harm. These fish consume large quantities of mollusks daily, including native mussels vital for water filtration. Their proliferation leads to degraded water quality, impacting fisheries, drinking water costs, and local water recreation economies.

The bounty program encourages early detection and elimination, which is significantly more cost-effective than later control efforts involving public funding, chemical treatments, and habitat restoration. Anglers are instructed to humanely kill the fish, keep them cool on ice, and report their catch to state wildlife agencies, with identification guides available to prevent misidentification.