A $1.2 billion dollar industry dependent on native fish in the Kentucky and Barkley Lakes is under threat. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife and state Tourism, Arts and Heritage Council blame an invasive fish - the Asian Carp. Officials are looking to create a commercial fishing industry to cull the carp from state waters.
Ron Brooks, Fisheries Director for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources said a public private partnership could be the answer. As it stands, Brooks said more than 125,000 pounds of carp need to be caught a day and there aren’t enough fishermen.
“Also there are some issues with transportation of fish from the lakes and rivers to the processors, where the quality of fish could be enhanced by creating a unit--that we would call a distributor/warehouse unit.” Brooks said.
Brooks said the department’s vision is to “create this unit in conjunction with maybe hiring new commercial fishermen and teaching them how to fish to kind of augment what's out there now.” After a labor force is trained, Brooks anticipates a private business independently hiring the fishermen or the entire unit.
More than 2 million lbs of Aisan Carp came out of the lakes in 2016, according to Brooks. “Our short term goal is 5 million lbs,.” he said.
There are three processors currently in the state that can take variations of the fish.
"So this unit, I call it. Would basically be responsible for distribution of fish, putting them on ice, making sure they are in good shape when they come to the fishermen and to the processors," Brooks explained he expects between 10-20 new fishing crews that would have a minimum wage guaranteed.
"And then incentives for how many fish they were to bring in. That is the concept, but this is all just a concept." Said Brooks.
The department is hoping to gather ideas at an information session on July 27 at Kentucky Dam Village State Park. Brooks encourages people who have a serious interest in Asian Carp commercial fishing to attend.
For those wishing to provide information in person, Cabinet and Kentucky Fish and Wildlife representatives will schedule 45-minute meetings on the topic at Kentucky Dam Village State Park in Gilbertsville, Ky. Meetings will begin at 8:30 a.m.(Central time) July 27. Email Chris Reece at Christopher.reece@ky.gov to reserve a meeting time.