Federal and state agricultural ministers have agreed to continue researching a herpes virus for potential release into Australian waterways overrun with carp, but an expert says doing so risks wasting time and money.
The six-year study cost $10.4 million, which was drawn from $15.2m dedicated to the research by the federal government in 2016.
Communities across the Murray-Darling Basin have been dealing with increased carp numbers in the wake of flooding in 2022-23.
“We could be researching this issue for another 10 years and at the end of the day there would still be nothing done, just money put to something that doesn’t come to fruition,” he said.
Why are they trying to give herpes to fishes?
Because it will kill the invasive species
Ah that makes more sense. I figured they were just perverts.
Well that too, killing an invasive species is just an unintended benefit.
This whole thing reads like a Flork of Cows comic
Yeah sounds like nothing bad could come of this…
This is the best summary I could come up with:
Federal and state agricultural ministers have agreed to continue researching a herpes virus for potential release into Australian waterways overrun with carp, but an expert says doing so risks wasting time and money.
“A scientific committee will now reform to look at these priorities and potentially bring international researchers in,” Dr Hennecke said.
Dr Hennecke said state and federal agricultural ministers and the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority would need to assess the findings before making a decision about approving the release of the virus.
Former national carp task force member and recreational fisher Peter Teakle said it was time for action, not more research.
Mr Teakle said governments should have released the carp virus during the floods that have occurred in the last few years.
Mr Teakle said he was concerned about the environmental impacts from releasing the virus during drier times.
The original article contains 335 words, the summary contains 136 words. Saved 59%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!
Bad bad bot. Mediocre synopsis.
