Nantou fights predatory carp that disturb ecology of Sun Moon Lake

Описание: Officials in Nantou have launched into action to protect Sun Moon Lake from predatory carp. The predatory fish have a debilitating effect on ecology in the popular tourist spot. Local fishermen believe they may be developing more and more sophisticated hunting skills. But Nantou County officials will be staking out the carp from now until November.

A red shadow in the water. These officials have been waiting patiently for the shoal of predatory carp to appear.

They reach out their taser and send an electric shock into the shoal, then fish the carp out of the water. Nantou County Government one, carp zero.

Chang Ching-fu
Nantou County Government
We came down here straight away to carry out prevention. We’ve eliminated about two shoals, which is about 870 fish.

Those 870 shocked fish are placed in a bucket. Officials say fishermen alerted them to the appearance of the carp last week. The prevention team rushed to Sun Moon Lake to ambush the fish. Moving in a shoal helps the carp hunt their prey, but it also makes them vulnerable to shock attacks from officials.

Chang Ching-fu
Nantou County Government
There are more of them in July and August. They persist until October or November, so we’ll continue our prevention work until that time.

There is just one fish cultivation pond in Sun Moon Lake for the topmouth culter. Recently, a predatory carp bit through its pond net allowing the carp to enter and hunt the culter. Fishermen think the carp’s hunting skills are improving.

Nantou fisherman
After they ate the fish, they found their way out of the hole again. See how clever they are? They leave a trail of devastation behind.

Officials say the carp arrived later than usual this year. In years past they were here by May. Regardless, the strategy is the same: hunting the fish with tasers until November, so that the rest of the wildlife in Sun Moon Lake has a chance of survival.