One idea to curb the invasive Asian carp

One idea to curb the invasive Asian carp

Source: michigan advance

8/1/2024

Credit: Kasey Whiteman/Missouri Department of Conservation

Midwestern states are spending millions every year to prevent a giant, goggle-eyed fish from invading rivers and lakes. But the Asian carp has firmly established a home in the Mississippi River basin, and experts say they are here to stay.

Now, researchers are hoping that creating new markets for the invasive fish could be part of the solution.

Asian carp, four different species originating from Asia, are widespread in the Mississippi River and surrounding streams. The fish – grass carp, black carp, bighead carp and silver carp – were brought to the United States in the 1970s to feed on algae in aquaculture ponds. When released into the wild, they spread rapidly despite scientists’ doubts that they would reproduce, and now present a huge ecological problem, especially silver carp.