Registration of Carbon Dioxide–Carp

Invasive Carp Control: Carbon Dioxide

Registration of new fishery chemicals is critical to facilitate field research and give resource managers the ability to incorporate chemical controls as part of their Integrated Pest Management plans. In April 2019, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) obtained a Section 3 registration from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for carbon dioxide (CO₂) as a new fishery chemical under the name Carbon Dioxide–Carp. Currently, the USFWS, USGS, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, state natural resource agencies, or persons under their direct supervision are the only approved applicators for Carbon Dioxide–Carp. This registration label allows approved applicators to administer Carbon Dioxide – Carp to deter invasive carps (silver carp, bighead carp, black carp, and grass carp) or as an under ice lethal control for any aquatic nuisance species. The USGS and USFWS are currently working to establish a web-based system for end users to obtain access to the Carbon Dioxide–Carp label (required for legal application in the U.S.) and to report use (required by EPA).