The grass carp, also known as the white amur (Ctenopharyn-godon idella), is a Chinese carp imported into this country as a means of achieving biological aquatic weed control. It is native to southeast Asia, and was brought into the United States in the early 1960's as an experimental aquatic weed control method. Since that time, use of grass carp has become commonplace. Because of concerns about the potential impacts on the environment and native fish populations, several states restrict or prohibit their uses. While some states prohibit the stocking of grass carp altogether, others will allow the use of a sterile carp known as a "triploid." Triploid grass carp have an extra set of chromosomes and thus, are sterile, eliminating any possibility they may reproduce if they escape into the wild. Stocking of grass carp in Mississippi is currently not restricted by law. Either normal (diploid) or triploid carp may be used; but it is recommended that pond owners stock the triploid carp when available.

The grass carp is a member of the Cyprinid family, which includes goldfish, common carp, and many of our native minnow and shiner species. It should not be confused with other nonnative carp, such as the bighead carp, silver carp, black carp, or mud carp. These other carp are not good biological control agents for aquatic weeds because they feed on different components of the pond ecosystem.