Commercial fishers will receive higher payments for removing invasive carp from two major Kentucky reservoirs under a revised state incentive program.

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources has increased its commercial fishing incentive from 10 cents to 15 cents per pound for invasive carp harvested from Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. The change targets four species — silver carp, bighead carp, black carp, and grass carp — that threaten native fish populations and aquatic habitats.

State officials say the higher incentive is intended to maintain pressure on invasive carp populations that are showing signs of decline. “We have several lines of evidence suggesting our management strategy is reducing invasive carp populations in both lakes,” said Joshua Tompkins, coordinator for the Aquatic Invasive Species Program. “To keep that trend going, we’re adapting our efforts to maintain harvest at effective levels. Our success is due to the hard work of our commercial fishers and strong federal support.”

In 2024, commercial fishers harvested more than 15 million pounds of invasive carp through Kentucky’s Invasive Carp Harvest Program. Since the program began in 2013, total removals have exceeded 74 million pounds.

According to the department, no young silver carp have been detected in either reservoir since 2015, and average catch rates have declined sharply since 2019. Officials also report that invasive carp are exhibiting improved body condition, which they attribute to reduced competition for food as populations decrease.

Deterrent technology has also contributed to management efforts. The BioAcoustic Fish Fence at Barkley Dam on the Cumberland River, which uses sound, light and bubbles to discourage fish movement, has reduced upstream migration by about 50 percent. In addition, the department’s Experimental Commercial Fishing Methods Program is testing new gear and techniques to increase large-scale removals while limiting impacts on native species. Some commercial crews have removed more than 60,000 pounds of invasive carp per day.

“Increasing the incentive to commercial fishers will help ensure we keep suppressing invasive carp numbers,” said Dave Dreves, director of the Fisheries Division for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. “It’s a big win for anglers and boaters that recreate on Kentucky and Barkley lakes, as well as for the vital $940-million tourism economy of the Western Waterlands Region.”