ABSTRACT

Silver carp (H. molitrix; Valenciennes, 1844) is a native species of China and Eastern Siberia, introduced around the world for aquaculture and the control of algal blooms, and feeds on phytoplankton and zooplankton [1]. It is among 3 or 4 species of cyprinids whose world production in aquaculture exceeds 1 million tons per year. Silver carp production has increased almost five-fold in two years (1998-2000) becoming the top cultured species in 2002 for the first time [2].