The Saskatchewan Sportfish Research Group is looking for angler's help with a current study into Prussian Carp.

Christopher Somers is a professor of biology at the University of Regina and started up the research group to assist with the info gathering portion of his study into the species which he provides some background on.

"Prussian carp is a new invasive fish species that just arrived in Saskatchewan in large numbers or at least was discovered in Saskatchewan in large numbers in 2018. It is a species that has caused havoc in parts of Europe where it's been introduced and also right next door in Alberta."

Somers adds that they were quite alarmed to find this new invasive fish species here in Saskatchewan.

Anglers are being asked that if they happen to catch a Prussian carp that they humanely kill it and then freeze it and contact Somers to arrange delivery of the carcass. Somers needs the carcasses to look at the sex, age, and genetic analysis of the fish and so they are trying to incorporate anglers as citizen scientists into the process by way of a contest. The first ten anglers that contribute to the study will receive a $100 gift card to Cabellas.

In terms of where they can be found, Somers says they are found in a couple of major water systems in Alberta one of which is the South Saskatchewan River system which flows into Saskatchewan at the Western border and then into Lake Diefenbaker and then on into all the tributaries of Lake Diefenbaker and the Saskatchewan River as it goes north to Saskatoon and then off to Manitoba. Prussian carp are present in Saskatchewan from the Saskatchewan/Alberta border in the Saskatchewan River all the way to Saskatoon throughout Lake Diefenbaker.

In terms of within the Swift Current area specifically, Somers says they can be found in the huge stretch of the Saskatchewan River and reservoir of Lake Diefenbaker.

Somers details why the species is such a threat.

"Prussian carp are extremely prolific breeders. Meaning that they have tons of babies. They often spawn four or five times a year in comparison to most of our native species which only spawn once. And it's really about overcrowding and using up all of the available resources."

Somers goes on to explain that due to this all of the productivity and nutrients and energy in the aquatic system that would normally go into making a diverse range of native fish species, now gets all channeled into making Prussian carp.

Somers reminds anglers to look into what Prussian carp look like before killing any and saving for the program. Anglers who catch a Prussian carp can let Somers know through email at reportinvasivecarp@swf.sk.ca or by contacting him through the Saskatchewan Sportfish Research Group Facebook page.

Somers adds that in 2019 a mature Prussian carp was brought into the waystation during the Sask Landing Walleye Tournament so they are in that stretch of the river.

Distinctive features of the fish include the following:

- small to medium in size; max. of about 4 lbs
- deep-bodied fish like a flattened football
- large scales, metallic gold to silver in color
- forward-facing, non-sucker mouth, no visible teeth
- single, long dorsal fin on the back