The National Carp Control Plan (NCCP) will recommend to the Federal Government before Christmas whether or not to release the controversial herpes virus, a potential move described as "reckless" by some commercial fishers.

Key points: Investigations into the possible release of a virus to control carp numbers will soon be presented to the Federal Government

Investigations into the possible release of a virus to control carp numbers will soon be presented to the Federal Government There have been repeated calls from scientists and the fishing industry for more time and money to be put into research

There have been repeated calls from scientists and the fishing industry for more time and money to be put into research If the virus is released, local governments want assurances that the clean-up will be properly resourced

The NCCP is investigating the potential impact of a species-specific virus (cyprinid herpesvirus 3) being released into waterways to reduce European carp numbers.

In October last year the Government provided a 12-month extension to the plan, but there has since been no new funding or research topics.

A total of $15 million was allocated to develop the control plan, with just $5 million of that set aside for research.

Jamie Allnutt took over from Matt Barwick as the plan's coordinator, and said there had been "slight variations" to research projects but no new topics had been investigated.

"No extra funding has been given, but the research program has been implemented, and when you design a research program, you're open to slight changes to that program," Mr Allnutt said.

"We haven't needed extra money to do that."

He said the NCCP was on track to make a recommendation and he was not expecting another extension.

Some commercial fishers say more research is needed into the potential decline in water quality. ( ABC Rural: Isabella Pittaway )

Releasing the virus would be 'reckless'

There have been repeated calls from scientists and the fishing industry for more time and money to be put towards research on the impacts and effectiveness of releasing the virus.

Garry Herra-Singh, the chairman of the Southern Fisherman's Association, a group that represents commercial fishers in SA's Lower Lakes and Coorong, said the problems carp caused did not warrant the release of the virus.

He said more research was needed into the potential decline in water quality.

"It's not like a land-based virus, this is actually in a column of water and you really don't see the impacts, particularly the secondary impacts that affect other plants, other biota and other animals until it's too late.

"While it may kill a lot of carp, there are going to be survivors and every offspring will develop a strain that is more adaptive and resistant to the current virus.

"Someone's prepared to take the risk of introducing a virus that nobody is definite or clear about the impacts that it may have on the whole Murray-Darling Basin."

Concerns about the clean-up

The Murraylands and Riverlands Local Government Association said it was not opposed to introducing the virus as long as the clean-up effort was properly resourced.

Chief executive Tim Smythe said it was still unknown who would be responsible for disposing of the fish.

Local governments want to know the clean-up effort will be properly resourced. ( Supplied: Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre )

"We recognise and understand the significant environmental benefit from a dedicated and targeted plan to eradicate carp," he said.

"Our concern has been and will continue to be the clean-up.

"Obviously, the Murray-Darling Basin is a vast network, but that said, I guess we have to place our confidence in those people that are doing the necessary studies."

No research on virus spreading

Concerns have also been raised about whether the virus could spread beyond Australia.

The herpes virus has spread rapidly throughout much of the world, although not to Australia or New Zealand.

Mr Allnutt said spending money on researching its spread outside of Australia was not warranted because it was largely known how it moved across the world.

"We've been looking at how that virus spreads overseas, but [how it could spread from Australia] hasn't been a focus of our research."

A draft plan, which includes research from 19 projects, will be presented to a scientific advisory panel later this month, less than two months before a recommendation is made to the Government.

It will not be released for public consultation.