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21/07/2025Elvis the crocodile, at the Australian Reptile Park, has a lot to smile about. Thanks to the enthusiastic participants of Central Coast Council’s first-ever Carp to Croc fishing competition, he’s now enjoying a steady supply of fresh carp for dinner!
Held over a month (April-May) period, this fun and educational initiative saw 101 local fishers remove 296 invasive European Carp (Cyprinus carpio) from our waterways, with more than 120 fish donated through BCF Tuggerah to the Australian Reptile Park. It’s a win for Elvis and a major win for local waterway health.
But this project was about more than just a good catch. It aimed to shine a spotlight on one of the most damaging aquatic pests in Australia, and how we can all play a part in protecting our local estuaries and freshwater systems.
Why Carp Are a Problem
European Carp are a major threat to freshwater ecosystems. Their feeding behaviour stirs up sediments, increasing water turbidity, uprooting aquatic plants, and releasing nutrients that degrade water quality. This disrupts native vegetation, reduces oxygen levels, and impacts the survival of native fish and invertebrates.
First introduced to Australia in the mid-1800s, carp populations exploded in the 1960s and now dominate many inland waterways. It’s estimated they make up as much as 90% of fish biomass in some NSW rivers and creeks. Their spread continues to pose serious challenges for water quality and native biodiversity across the state.
How the Project Came About
The Carp to Croc event is the latest initiative from Central Coast Council’s Estuary Management and Waterways teams in collaboration with OzFish Unlimited, a national not-for-profit organisation dedicated to restoring fish habitat. Since 2022, Council has been working with OzFish to engage recreational fishers in hands-on habitat restoration, with a focus on saltmarsh and fringing wetlands, which play a critical role in supporting water quality and fisheries productivity.
OzFish operates local chapters across Australia and is supported by BCF – Boating, Camping, Fishing, who help raise funds in-store to support grassroots habitat projects. (OzFish’s motto: “Better habitat. Better fishing.”)
One of the standout programs from this partnership is Floating Landcare, which has seen OzFish members and BCF staff roll up their sleeves alongside Council’s Environmental Volunteer Program to restore and care for hard-to-reach sites along our estuary margins. Monthly events continue to grow with the support of a passionate community.
Carp to Croc: A Community-Driven Solution
Armed with local knowledge and experience, Council staff knew that carp were abundant in some of our waterways, but also recognised that public awareness of their impacts was low. So, the team set out to change that with a fun, family-friendly approach: a carp muster-style fishing competition that could educate while actively reducing carp numbers.
And so, Carp to Croc was born.
The event launched with a community day at the Wyong Milk Factory, brought to life with the help of Education Officers from Council’s Water and Sewer team. The day featured stalls and activities from a broad coalition of partners, including Council’s Estuary Management and Waterways teams, OzFish, BCF, WaterNSW, the Department of Primary Industries, and the University of Newcastle. Attendees enjoyed live cooking demos, educational talks on carp impacts and sustainable fishing practices, and the chance to connect with experts in waterway health.
Following the excitement of the community launch event, the Carp to Croc fishing competition ran for four weeks and was hosted through the FishDonkey online platform. This innovative setup allowed participants to easily register and log their catches using their mobile phones, while also tracking the live leader board to fuel some friendly rivalry. The digital format added a fun and interactive twist to the competition, keeping anglers engaged as they cast their lines for a great cause.
A Strong Start, and More to Come
The event was a huge success, with strong community turnout. There was also enthusiastic engagement across Council’s social media platforms, with over 41,000 views, 160+ link clicks, and nearly 130 interactions on Facebook alone.
Beyond the immediate results, the data collected during the competition will provide valuable insights into the local distribution and abundance of carp. In addition, tissue samples from 40 carp, collected with support from University of Newcastle students, will be analysed to understand what carp are eating, shedding light on their role in the aquatic food web and helping inform future management strategies.
Looking Ahead
Carp to Croc was a great example of what can be achieved through collaboration, education, and a bit of creative thinking. Based on its success, plans are already in motion to bring it back — bigger and better — next year.
Council’s Estuaries and Water & Sewer teams are always open to future partnerships that align with our shared goals: healthier waterways, stronger ecosystems, and a more informed community.
Ben Cuerel feeding Elvis the crocodile with carp captured in Wyong River (Australian Reptile Park staff watching on)
Some of the keen fishers who captured carp during the program. After a quick kiss the carp were off to Elvis the croc to give these pest fish an entirely different kind of attention!
University of Newcastle students collect tissue samples from captured carp for ongoing research
This article was written by Ben Cuerel, Estuary Management Officer