Nantou fights predatory carp that disturb ecology of Sun Moon Lake

2022-08-25

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.

除"虎"大作戰! 電撈"魚虎球" 捕獲870尾魚虎

2022-08-25

日月潭唯一復育曲腰魚的箱網養殖場，竟遭到魚虎咬破網子，攻擊曲腰魚，這也代表"除虎"行動勢在必行。縣府接獲通報後，在潭面上發現幼魚群聚的「魚球」蹤影，立刻派出電撈手，前往魚虎出沒地點，採用電撈方式圍捕魚球，2022年的第一戰，捕獲870尾魚虎。

紅色魚虎球現蹤日月潭面，除"虎"電撈，等這刻等了好久。

往群聚的魚球電擊，再用網子把魚虎撈起來，這是縣府農業處，今年防治魚虎的第一戰，成效不錯。

[[南投縣農業處林保科長張景富]]
“我們馬上下去做防治動作，那總共移除的魚球，大概兩球，總數量大概870尾”

兩球魚球，總共電了870尾魚虎，全都裝到桶子裡，農業處說，上個星期接獲當地漁民通報，魚球現蹤，防治小組前往日月潭湖面埋伏，雖然魚球集體行動，有利魚虎獵食，但群聚的魚球，更是電撈除虎的大好機會。

[[南投縣農業處林保科長張景富]]
“然後7月、8月，會比較大量，會延續到10月、11月左右，我們防治期會拉到10月、11月”

日月潭唯一復育曲腰魚的養殖箱網，最近被魚虎咬破網，讓魚虎長驅直入，攻擊曲腰魚。漁民懷疑，魚虎的攻擊能力，又進化了。

[[當地漁民]]
“吃完魚又循著這個洞出去，你看魚虎聰不聰明，屍橫遍野”

農業處說，今年魚虎球出現時間，比較晚一點，往年在5月份就會出現，但不管如何，只要魚虎現蹤，就是電捕撈，防治期會到11月，盡全力維護日月潭的生態。