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Carp to be removed from La Isla lake at Condado de Alhama
The resort management team has declared it will take the invasive fish species out of the lake this December
Management at Condado de Alhama Golf Resort has announced that work to remove the invasive carp from the resort’s irrigation lake will begin during the first week of December 2025. The operation, which has been contracted to specialist environmental consultancy Biocyma, marks an important step in ongoing efforts to restore the health of the resort’s water systems.
According to the update sent to La Isla property owners, the initiative follows concerns raised by several owners’ association presidents over the presence of the fish. Biocyma was asked to assess whether similar work should be carried out in the ornamental lake at La Isla. The consultancy advised against it for now, noting that only a very small number of carp are present and that removing them would require emptying the lake entirely, a process deemed costly and impractical at this stage.
The lake has a chequered history, with problems becoming increasingly visible in recent years. Episodes of stagnation, foul odours and infestations raised concerns among residents, who have long called for coordinated action.
Previous summers saw issues such as low water levels, anoxia and declining water quality, prompting municipal intervention by Alhama de Murcia town hall and a commitment to improve both the lake’s condition and the wider environment of the resort.
The current plan focuses solely on the irrigation lake, where carp numbers are far higher. The work has been scheduled for early December for two main reasons: the reduced need for irrigation at this time of year, and the forecast rise in the lake’s water level to the 40 centimetres required to begin the first stage.
This initial phase involves lowering the water level to between 30 and 50 centimetres, then carrying out manual trawling supported by gill nets of varying mesh sizes. This method prevents mass mortality, allowing the fish to be removed safely and disposed of correctly. The second phase will see the lake completely emptied, the remaining carp removed and managed, and the basin left to dry for around two weeks to prevent recolonisation.
Management also confirmed that approximately 3,000 cubic metres of water will be diverted to the nearby rainwater pond before the final emptying takes place.
Owners were reminded not to feed the remaining fish or release any animal species into the lakes, as doing so disrupts the ecosystem and can cause long-term damage. Biocyma recommends future fishing operations every two to three years when conditions are most favourable.
The current works are expected to conclude by Friday December 5.
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Image: Ayuntamiento de Alhama de Murcia
