An invasive fish that can destroy an ecosystem and literally jump out of the water and into boats and people has been spotted in East Tennessee.
Wildlife experts have been worried about the Asian carp for a while. They are not native to North America and can seriously endanger both other fish and boaters.
They've literally been known to jump clear out of the water when they are scared and injured boaters.
That's what could have happened on Chickamauga Lake, near Chattanooga, in October. A fisherman told TWRA in January that a silver carp “jumped into the boat as I deployed my trolling motor.”
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Dustin Hinkle told TWRA he encountered the fish near the Sequoyah Nuclear Plant, and stated he “saw 15-20 more fish near the surface” exhibiting a feeding behavior.
There have been no further reports, but TWRA wants to hear from anyone who sees one.
“This is an excellent reminder to report carp sightings from East Tennessee, where carp are not already known to be established. We encourage anyone reporting to include photos, location information, and if possible keep a fish frozen to share with TWRA,” said Cole Harty, TWRA’s Aquatic Nuisance Species Coordinator.
Reports can be made by calling the nearest TWRA regional office, or by emailing ANS.TWRA@tn.gov.
It is likely that these fish traveled up the Tennessee River through navigation locks, ultimately finding their way to Chickamauga Lake. From there, they could move up the Tennessee River and end up in any of the big area lakes in East Tennessee.
“TWRA has been working with multiple partners to limit the spread and impact of invasive Asian carp in Tennessee,” said Frank Fiss, TWRA Fisheries Chief. “This new observation demonstrates the urgency of the issue.”