Carp Farming

Carp farming might sound unfamiliar to South African anglers, but it certainly is not a new concept - in fact people have been farming carp for over 2000 years. It originated in China then the Romans started keeping carp in reservoirs which led to the early roman catholic monasteries actively farming carp for food all over Europe. It was the Catholics of the 12th century that developed methods for producing the required fish fry for themselves and who carried out selective breeding to produce the desired results, much like what our cattle farmers have been doing in South Africa for many years to achieve the best breed of cattle. By always using the biggest, most handsome specimens for reproduction, a genetic selection took place, which ultimately led to fast growing, long-living forms of carp that would produce a good share of meat. These breeding forms of carp were usually stocky, high-backed, and naked except for a few remaining scales. Selective Carp Farming is a booming business in Europe and there a large number of fish farms from where carp of any strain, shape, colour or size can be bought. Almost every fishery in Europe has their own stock of carp, either bred locally or bought from one of these fish breeders to ensure that the very best strain of fish populate their angling waters. In South Africa however this is an almost unknown trade but there is one man who has managed to not only successfully import certified giant carp stock, but has also succeeded in breeding thousands of them for resale, namely Frederick Sterzel of Mega Carp International in Johannesburg. At the recent SA Fishing Festival we had a chance to chat to Frederick about imported carp and the importance of stocking quality fish into our local fishing venues. Interview with Frederick Sterzel: Q: Tell us about your background - where you started with fish farming and what you think is in store for South African anglers? F: Like most people I started fishing as a youngster, but I took it a step further and started breeding them, obviously for selling but also for myself. In a way I sort of fell in love with the carp and – can you believe it – I eventually stopped fishing for them! So from there I realised that there were much bigger carp in the world than our South African carp. Our carp were a very poor strain and don’t get big at all; there is the odd big fish, but carp were imported not because of their size but simply because it was a carp. I had heard there was a carp in the world reaching 40 and more kilograms. Once I heard that I figured that I would not rest until I could get my hands on one of those big fish, which I eventually did about 23 years ago. The first giant carp I imported were from Lake Gigantica in Germany - one of them reached 19kg at only 4 years old. It was an enormously beautiful fish, but unfortunately some fishermen, who were obviously more keen than I was, stole all my fish one Saturday evening. It took me another 12 years after that to get more breeding stock from Europe, but in a way it was good because the new stock was an improved breeding stock. The first one was called a D-on-D variety and my latest stock of fish is called a D-on-W variety. From the D-on-W genetic stock we have here in SA there are fish that have already reached 40 to 50 kilograms back in Europe. The biggest carp in the world is a fish recently caught at 51,2kg which has the same genetic make-up as the fish we currently have right here. So what is going to happen now in South Africa as these fish go into the lakes and dams, is that with our climate we are going to start seeing not only a new South African Record Carp, but possibly also a World Record. And to be honest, I think that with this genetic stock we will one day get the World Record in South Africa - and that is what I’m hoping for. I hope I will be around to see it but I’m sure you younger guys will! My message to anyone who has a dam or a fishing venue is that it is time to put aside the South African strain carp and to start stocking your venues with the true giant carp of the world; you are going to not only attract more anglers but will also have the pleasure of seeing these carp out grow any size carp ever produced in South Africa, which is what we are all waiting to see. Q: For a South African Carp fisherman that is certainly one of the most amazing thoughts! On the topic of fish and stocking of dams: There are a lot of dam owners who are looking to stock their venues with fish and end up either buying stolen fish or moving fish from large dams. What are the effects and risks of stocking your dam with just any wild fish? F: Anyone who takes fish from a dam and moves it to another dam is looking for trouble. In fish you have an incurable disease called the “KHV” virus, which is almost like AIDS, and once you move that infected fish into your dam and it experiences a little bit of stress it is going to infect all your fish, and except for the carriers they will all die. You will have to drain your dam and destroy all your fish and make sure there’s nothing in there for at least 2 years before you can restock it. The KHV virus first originated in Japan and in fact the owner of the farm where it originated committed Harikiri, which means he fell on his own sword. This disease spread around the world and it is in South Africa’s wild water at this very moment. I advise all the serious dam and fishing venue owners to wise up and do not take wild carp and put them in your fishing venues because sooner or later you will get a KHV infected fish into your venue and then you are done. It will be the end of your venue, the end of your fishing and the end of your business. Do not do it! Also be very careful when you are buying carp because there are people who will sell you carp which have KHV and they don’t even know it themselves. Be very careful. Our fish all come with a disease-free certificate and they do not come even near any other fish. In fact, if anyone walks even within a kilometer of our breeding facility with a wild carp, he’s going to get locked up! No wild carp whatsoever comes near our breeding stocks. So if you do get fish from us not only are you going to get the fastest growing carp in the world, but also certified disease free fish. As a venue owner it really is not worth having inferior South African strain fish. Our fish can reach 20kg within 3 - 5 years and some will go on to reach 40 and 50kg. Let’s hope for the World Record Carp to come out of our own waters very soon!