Hundreds of algae-munching carp were released into the lakes and fountains of France's Versailles palace Tuesday in a bid to cut down on aquatic plants that were threatening its historic fountains.
The official in charge of the state-run property, Christophe Tardieu, said the fish were seen as a more eco-friendly option to combat the algae eating away at the centuries-old fountains.
"We had a choice between dumping pesticides in the Grand Canal (the main body of water in Versaille's grounds) or putting in carp. We preferred the second solution because it's more ecological and it fits with the conservation policy of Versaille's natural heritage," he said.
PHOTO: AP
Nearly half the fish — grass carp originally from east Asia that are often used for water weed control — were put in the Grand Canal, with the others distributed among the property's many other ponds, canals and mini-lakes.
Tardieu said more carp would likely be released next year, after an evaluation of how well the initial exercise worked out.
Previously, Versaille's waterways were cleaned — laboriously — by gardners in boats scrubbing away at the underwater stonework.
When grass carp are introduced for weed control, they are often sterile in order to prevent them from overbreeding and then starving to death. In order to sterilize the fish, the eggs are exposed to heat or electricity. Before they are sold, the fish are tested to ensure they will not be able to breed.
This is especially important since grass carp, originally cultivated in China for food, could cause damage to the ecosystems in other countries like the United States, Australia or New Zealand.(Staff Writer with AFP)
數百隻喜食水藻的鯉魚在星期二被放生到法國凡爾賽宮的湖泊和噴水池裡，藉以減少水生植物的生長，降低對歷史悠久的噴水池所造成的傷害。
負責管理此國有資產的政府官員克里斯多福．塔帝厄表示，對抗侵蝕有數百年歷史的噴水池的水藻，魚是比較環保的作法。
他表示︰「我們可以選擇在大運河（凡爾賽宮地面主要水道）傾倒殺蟲劑，或放入鯉魚，我們偏好第二種解決方案，因為這是比較環保的做法，而且符合凡爾賽宮的自然資產保育政策。」
這種鯉魚又稱草鯉，源自東亞，經常被用來當作控制水草生長的工具，有將近一半的草鯉被放進大運河裡，其餘則被分配到凡爾賽宮其他諸多的池塘、水道和迷你湖泊中。
塔帝厄表示，在評估初步作法的成效後，明年可能會放進更多鯉魚。
過去凡爾賽的水道都必須藉由園丁搭船，費力地刮除水面下的石雕來進行清潔工作。
引進草鯉控制水草生長時，通常先得結紮，以防止過度繁殖而導致飢餓致死。結紮魚時，得將卵加熱或通電。出售前，鯉魚還會接受檢試以確保不具備繁殖能力。
這點尤其重要，因為原來在中國被養殖作為食用魚的草鯉，可能會對其他國家如美國、澳洲或紐西蘭的環境造成破壞。
（法新社╱翻譯︰鄭湘儀）
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