Grass carp (ctenopharyngodon idella), a non-native herbivorous fish species, has the potential to alter the great lakes ecosystem by consuming large amounts of native aquatic vegetation

This Project Grant award from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (CFDA 15.662) program, will support the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in implementing the Lake Erie Committee Grass Carp Response Plan. The $370,048 award will fund a Michigan DNR field crew to conduct grass carp monitoring, removal, and research activities in the Great Lakes region. This work is part of a coordinated, multi-agency effort to address the threat of grass carp, a non-native invasive fish species, establishing self-sustaining populations in the Great Lakes ecosystem. Key activities include analyzing captured grass carp to determine reproductive status, natal origin, growth, and movement patterns, as well as collaborating with commercial and recreational fishers to increase targeted sampling. The award period is from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025.

The concern of grass carp establishing in the great lakes was elevated following the confirmation of reproductively viable grass carp in lake erie in 2012 and finding of eggs in 2015. Since that time, early life history surveys have documented evidence of grass carp spawning in the sandusky, maumee, and huron rivers, lake erie tributaries in ohio. A structured decision making process was initiated to strategically address regional concerns and knowledge gaps for grass carp in lake erie, which led to the development of the lake erie committee grass carp response plan. Implementation of the plan is a coordinated effort among michigan department of natural resources, ohio department of natural resources, U.S. Fish and wildlife service, U.S. Geological survey, university of toledo, university of buffalo, michigan state university, and other regional partners. To date, over 1,000 grass carp have been removed from lake erie and research has helped address critical uncertainties surrounding grass carp life history and effectiveness of removal strategies. As part of the response plan, partner collaborations have continued to analyze captured individuals to determine reproductive status, natal origin, growth dynamics, and movement patterns. In addition, partnerships with commercial and recreational fishers have increased targeted sampling efforts. A new response plan was developed by the lake erie committee, covering work from 2024-2028. This project will support the michigan component of the plan implementation by funding a michigan department of natural resources grass carp field crew.