The Australian federal government has declared a $15 million war on the imported fish described as one of the country's most devastating pests.

South Australian cabinet minister Christopher Pyne has told reporters at Murray Bridge they're going to visit "Carpegeddon" on the great pest of the River Murray, the European carp.

The money will be spent implementing the national carp control plan, which will include introducing a herpes virus into waterways from the end of 2018 to wipe out 95 per cent of the carp population over the next 30 years.

Most memorable pre-budget news: Govt to kill carp w herpes. Politicians struggling with this https://t.co/Z0b17shjXRhttps://t.co/AVx8jzPLao

— Anna Henderson (@annajhenderson) May 2, 2016

Pyne said the carp was one of the worst pests introduced into Australia, ranking alongside the cane toad, rabbits and donkeys.