A plan to release a strain of herpes virus into Australian waterways to eradicate carp fish populations carries serious risks for the health of our rivers and lakes and could prove to be as foolish as releasing the cane toad.

At the national OzWater conference in Brisbane on Tuesday, a scientist from Water NSW will report on what happens to water quality when lots of carp die quickly.

Charlie Diedo catches carp on the shore of Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra. Credit:Jay Cronan

Research is being reported on a dress rehearsal simulation of the impact on our rivers if, as is planned under the National Carp Control Plan, carp herpes virus is released to try to tackle Australia's “river rabbit” pest.

In the study, dead carp placed in 2000 litre tanks in Sydney’s Prospect Reservoir led to dissolved oxygen in the tank water falling to zero, with levels below 10 per cent remaining for up to two weeks. Without dissolved oxygen, fish and invertebrates rapidly die.