Recreational boaters need to be aware of an experimental Asian carp harvest method that will impact public access on Kentucky Lake beginning next week.
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Tennessee Valley Authority along with other federal agencies have scheduled a research effort scheduled to begin February 3 in an effort to rid the lake of thousands of invasive Asian carp.
According to officials, the research effort will last approximately three weeks and impact public access to Smith and Pisgah bays. Recreational boaters should avoid the embayments to minimize the risk of damage and disruption to the research operation.
Officials say the method is inspired by a traditional Chinese fishing technique and modified by the U.S. Geological Survey. It involves setting a series of nets and using boats equipped with underwater speakers and electrofishing gear to drive the carp sequentially to smaller compartments, where they can be removed from the water. Officials note the technique has produced encouraging results on smaller reservoirs in Illinois and Missouri.
Governor Andy Beshear says Kentucky is excited to collaborate with the state’s federal partners to examine ways to address the Asian carp issue at Kentucky Lake. He adds this will be the first time the method will be conducted in a reservoir greater than 500 acres in the United States.
