Wild and feral, heritage strains of carp are important

Wild carp are the original species fish from which modern cultivated varieties were bred. Remarkably they still exist, even after a thousand years of cultivation by fish farmers and significant impact on their natural river habitats.

The Wild Carp Trust exists to educate people about the plight of these fish and to promote their conservation. But, given how incredibly rare they are (only small populations remain in the wild, mostly in eastern Europe  – Caspian, Aral, Black Sea basins – and along the Russia/China border) we also celebrate ‘heritage’ strains of once-cultivated feral carp that have reverted to a wild-like form and avoided cross breeding with modern varieties. We call these heritage carp ‘wildies’ and promote their conservation and sporting merit to the angler.

Wild carp connection

They’re a living connection with our past, embodying thousands of years of history that reminds us of the ancient bond between man and fish.

Our oldest strains are incredibly rare. For example, there are perhaps fewer than a dozen waters in the UK containing medieval strains of heritage carp.

Wild carp are at risk

The true, original, wild carp of the River Danube are critically endangered to the point of near-extinction.

Our oldest strains of cultivated carp – the closest we have to the original wild carp – are threatened by pollution, predation and the risk of cross-breeding with modern varieties.

Wild carp need our help

They may have existed for centuries on their own, but the threat to their survival has never been greater. Without action now, they may be lost forever.

Joining the Wild Carp Trust will support essential conservation work to secure the future of these incredibly special heritage strains of carp.