Water quality levels in the ACT are set to be improved after more than 5 tonnes of carp were removed from some of Canberra's largest ponds.

More than 2200 of the introduced species were captured during the ACT government's catch and destroy mission at the Upper Stranger and Isabella ponds in Tuggeranong.

Aquatic ecologist Mark Jekabsons weighs a nine kilogram carp that was removed from Upper Stranger Pond. Credit:Sitthixay Ditthavong

The findings of the mission, which took place in April as part of the $80 million ACT Healthy Waterways Project, were unveiled at an ACT conservation seminar this week.

Aquatic ecologist Matt Beitzel said the introduced species have been known to be a major pest in many Australian waterways.