Barnaby Joyce's killer carp virus gets global warning

International science journal Nature Ecology and Evolution warned the carp virus could evolve and spread to other fish, while pointing out the millions of rotting carp would suck oxygen out of the waterways as they decomposed.

Matt Barwick, the man Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce called ‘The Carpinator’, welcomed the global discussion.

As national coordinator of the $15m National Carp Control Plan (NCCP), Mr Barwick will oversee two years of research and risk assessment to ensure “decision making is based on the best available science”.

“There will be no release of the virus by government agencies until this work has been completed,” Mr Barwick said.

“It is absolutely vital that we understand and can manage risks associated with the possible release of a virus into our waterways.

“The issues discussed in the journal are already being addressed under the National Carp Control Plan – there is nothing new here.

“In fact, the points raised reinforce those that are being voiced at community forums around the country by fishers, farmers and members of the community and is the focus of our Strategic Research Plan.”

Mr Barwick said no one was “shying away” from the fact there would be millions of carp sinking and rotting in waterways once killed by the virus.

“If the virus didn’t kill large numbers of carp, then it wouldn’t be successful,” Mr Barwick said.

The NCCP is investigating different strategies to harvest the massive amount carp biomass and building on the virus research done by the CSIRO.

Mr Barwick said the NCCP was not simply about killing carp, it was an environmental program to ensure native fish, birds and aquatic environments could be improved.

“This is not about eradicating carp and killing that last fish, because there will always be a few swimming around,” he said.

“This it's about radically reducing their numbers and their impacts, so we can have a healthy environment.”