Australian Startup Turns Invasive Carp Into Dog Treats

When Bridie Armour watched a dachshund named Charlie attack carp bigger than itself at a South Australian jetty, she saw more than a hungry dog. She saw a solution to one of the River Murray's biggest environmental problems.

European carp have devastated Australia's waterways since the 1960s, when a farmer's ornamental fish escaped into local streams. Today they make up 90 percent of the River Murray's fish population, killing native plants and muddying the water.

Armour and her partner Ben Chapman launched Pets for Planet in 2024 to turn these invasive pests into premium dog treats. They started small, catching carp themselves and dehydrating fillets in borrowed machines outside their share house.

The smell attracted swarms of European wasps. Armour's roommate endured carp fumes wafting through her window all night. Armour's mother wasn't thrilled when her Thermomix became a fish processing tool.

But dogs loved the jerky. Demand exploded so fast that the couple, working full time as a medical researcher and physiotherapist, couldn't keep up with weekend filleting sessions.

They relaunched this month with commercial fishers supplying the carp and a manufacturer handling production. The couple now focuses on packaging and their bigger mission: education and conservation.

The Ripple Effect

Pets for Planet directs profits toward installing carp separation cages in wetlands, where native fish can breed safely before release into the Murray. They've partnered with conservation experts to maximize impact.

The response has surprised even Armour. Customers drive long distances for the treats, and interstate orders keep flowing in. A wildlife conservation graduate recently volunteered to help.

"People just hate carp," Armour said. "It really took me by surprise about how passionate they are about it."

The couple tracks their progress with a "carp counter" showing roughly 2,000 fish removed so far. They've set an ambitious goal of one million in five years, though they're realistic about the scale.

One carp can produce a million eggs each breeding season, so dog treats alone won't solve the crisis. But Armour sees their role differently: raising awareness among younger Australians who don't even realize carp are invasive.

Their startup proves that creative thinking can turn environmental problems into solutions that help ecosystems, pets, and businesses thrive together.