The City of Palm Coast Stormwater & Engineering department is implementing an eco-friendly alternative method to aquatic weed biological control in the canals in Palm Coast by rehoming triploid grass carp to several locations throughout the community.
Triploid grass carp thrive in shallow water and enjoy warm aquatic temperatures. Their intense appetite for various underwater plant life sets these fish apart, including aquatic weeds hydrilla and Water Hyacinth. Both are indigenously invasive aquatic weeds that are labor-intensive to control due to extremely rapid growth.
Through proper permitting acquired with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC), the city has sourced 700 adolescent Triploid Grass Carp to be rehomed in several different canal heads, including; Rippling, Bellaire, Jefferson Davis, London and Beachwood Cove.
“Using Triploid Grass Carp as a way to control the aquatic weeds biologically is environmentally beneficial as it reduces the amount of herbicides needed to remove these plant species,” explains Stacey Davis, Stormwater Assistant Maintenance Manager. “Using alternative methods like this will benefit both our residents and environment.”
In addition to biological aquatic weed control, the City of Palm Coast also maintains the canals using Mechanical Control with an Aquatic Weed Harvester that scoops the underwater weeds by the roots and relocates them along the shoreline for collection. This method is done periodically by licensed contractors for this scope of work.
Fernando Melendez says
Grass Carp pose significant ecological threats to our intracoastal waterways through aggressive feeding and removal of aquatic vegetation, resulting in habitat loss and degradation affecting wetland fish and bird species. The question also becomes what will happen to our resident turtles, manatees etc. This once again a poor decision by someone that hasn’t done their homework. Plus who pays for this? Taxpayers?
Pat says
Triploid grass carp are sterile
They eat aquatic weeds and then die. This is an all natural solution,beats chemicals anytime.
Carp_fishernan says
This is awesome. Fishing for carp is fun. They also put up quite a fight.
Bf says
Agreed. It certainly seems like someone dropped the ball and didn’t properly investigate before implementation…. Including those at the fish and wildlife office. This could turn into a nightmare for the other local wildlife that feed on the vegetation or use it for shelter.
Denali says
Which would completely defeat the intent of the program. These fish have been genetically altered so that they cannot produce a viable offspring – for a intents and purposes, they are considered sterile, so no replacement fish. Given the relatively small numbers of fish needed to obtain the desired results, no targeted fishing of this species should be allowed. Then again, there is no one in Palm Coast who will be monitoring the fish status. Another well thought out scheme by the current administration.
Randy Bentwick says
People are acting like this is a new idea – Palm Coast has been putting carp in the canals for at least 15 years.