Asian carp

Several species of heavy-bodied cyprinid fishes are collectively known in the United States as Asian carp. Cyprinids from the Indian subcontinent—for example, catla (Catla catla) and mrigal (Cirrhinus cirrhosus)—are not included in this classification and are known collectively as "Indian carp". Asian carp are considered invasive species in the United States. In June, 2022, the EPA funded initiative to rebrand Asian Carp as Copi was announced.[1] The new name — Copi[2] — is a part of the Federal and multi-state campaign[3] to reintroduce the carps to the public as a healthy and responsible seafood option in order to decrease its numbers in U.S. waterways.[4]

Carp and other types of fish in Fish Swimming Amid Falling Flowers, a Song dynasty painting attributed to Liu Cai (circa 1080–1120)

Grass carp
Asian carp
The original Chinese character for "carp" in seal script (top), Traditional (middle), and Simplified (bottom) characters
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese鯉魚
Simplified Chinese鲤鱼
Literal meaning"carp-fish"
Japanese name
Kanji鯉

Species

Ten Asian carp have been substantially introduced outside their native ranges:

All the above, except largescale silver carp, have been cultivated in aquaculture in China for over 1,000 years. Largescale silver carp, a more southern species, is native to Vietnam and is cultivated there. Grass, silver, bighead, and black carp are known as the "Four Domesticated Fish" in China and are the most important freshwater fish species for food and traditional Chinese medicine. Bighead and silver carp are the most important fish, worldwide, in terms of total aquaculture production.[5] Common carp, amur carp and crucian carp are also common food fishes in China and elsewhere. Goldfish, though, are cultivated mainly as pet fish. Common carp are native to both Eastern Europe and Western Asia,[6] so they are sometimes called a "Eurasian" carp.

Asian carp, swimming at a Koi pond inside the Jardín Botánico de Quito.

In Chinese culture
Further information: Fish in Chinese mythology

A long tradition of Asian carp exists in Chinese culture and literature. A popular lyric circulating as early as 2,000 years ago in the late Han period includes an anecdote which relates how a man far away from home sent back to his wife a pair of carp (Chinese: 鲤鱼; pinyin: Liyu), in which, when the wife opened the fish to cook, she found a silk strip that carried a love note of just two lines: "Eat well to keep fit, missing you and forget me not".

At the Yellow River at Henan (Chinese: 河南; pinyin: Hénán; Wade–Giles: Ho-nan) is a waterfall called the Dragon Gate. It is said that if certain carp called yulong can climb the cataract, they will transform into dragons. Every year in the third month of spring, they swim up from the sea and gather in vast numbers in the pool at the foot of the falls. It used to be said that only 71 could make the climb in any year. When the first succeeded, then the rains would begin to fall. This Dragon Gate was said to have been created after the flood by the god-emperor Yu, who split a mountain blocking the path of the Yellow River. It was so famous that throughout China was a common saying, "a student facing his examinations is like a carp attempting to leap the Dragon Gate."

Henan is not the only place where this happens. Many other waterfalls in China also have the name Dragon Gate and much the same is said about them. Other famous Dragon Gates are on the Wei River where it passes through the Lung Sheu Mountains and at Tsin in Shanxi Province.

The fish's jumping feature is set in such a proverbial idiom as "Liyu (Carp) jumps over the Dragon Gate (Chinese: 鲤跃龙门)," an idiom that conveys a vivid image symbolizing a sudden uplifting in one's social status, as when one ascends into the upper society or has found favor with the royal or a noble family, perhaps through marriage, but in particular through success in the imperial examination. It is therefore an idiom often used to encourage students or children to achieve success through hard work and perseverance. This symbolic image, as well as the image of the carp itself, has been one of the most popular themes in Chinese paintings, especially those of popular styles. The fish is usually colored in gold or pink, shimmering with an unmistakably auspicious tone. Yuquan (玉泉 in Chinese), one of the well-known scenic spots in Hangzhou, has a large fish pond alive with hundreds of carp of various colors. A three-character inscription, Yu-Le-Guo (鱼乐国), meaning "fish's paradise", is set above one end of the pond in the calligraphy of a famous gentry-scholar of the late Ming Dynasty named Dong Qichang (Chinese: 董其昌). Many tourists feed the fish with bread crumbs.

Among the various kinds of carp, the silver carp is the least expensive in China. The grass carp is still the main delicacy in Hangzhou cuisine. Restaurants along the West Lake of the city keep the fish in cages submerged in the lake water right in front of the restaurant; on an order from a customer, they dash a live fish on the pavement to kill it before cooking. The fish is normally served with a vinegar-based sweet-and-sour sauce (Chinese: 西湖醋鱼).

A traditional Japanese tattoo of Koi fish.

In Japanese culture

The modern Japanese Koi fish are a brightly colored species of the Amur carp that have been bred by rice farmers in Japan since the early 19th century.[7] This subspecies of carp plays a significant role in Japanese art, often being depicted as symbols of luck, strength, and tenacity.[8]For this reason, Koi fish are also presented as gifts in Japanese culture as symbols of love, gratitude, and peace. Their bright colors and unique patterns present a high degree of eloquence to the Japanese people, thus creating a level of respect and appreciation for the Koi.

With Koi fish being at the forefront of a lot of Japanese art, it is common to find modern depictions of Koi in paintings, home art, murals, and even tattoos.

To many people, Koi fish strongly represent Samurai warriors, as they are able to be seen swimming upwards against a rivers current, symbolizing a Samurai's bravery. One typical saying is the phrase "koi no taki-nobori", translating to "Carp climbing the waterfalls", a phrase that is used to describe a persons strength and perseverance.[9]

Recreational fishing
A common carp caught using the method of Fly fishing

Of the species of Asian carp, the common carp (Cyprinus carpio), grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), and black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) are popular targets for recreational fisherman in the Midwest, despite their status of being an invasive species. These species of Asian carp are unique because of their ability to be caught with the traditional fishing technique of using a fishing rod, reel and a hook.[10] Other invasive carp species such as the Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis), and the largescale silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys harmandi) are not traditionally caught on rod and reel because they feed on plankton, therefore they do not bite on baited hooks or lures.[11]

The subspecies of common carp, in particular, is one of the most abundant species of carp found in most rivers, creeks, lakes, and ponds throughout the Midwest region of the United States. Common carp are a particularly strong fish that fight hard on the end of anglers' lines, making them an appealing target for recreational fisherman.[12] Since it's introduction to the waters of the United States in the 1880s[13] these fish have been viewed as a game fish, despite the fact that they are a destructive, and invasive species.

Jumping ability
Common carp jumping up into the air

Silver carp are easily frightened by boats, which cause them to leap between 2.5–3.0 metres (8–10 ft) into the air, and numerous boaters have been severely injured by collisions with the fish.[14] According to the Environmental Protection Agency, "reported injuries include cuts from fins, black eyes, broken bones, back injuries, and concussions".[15] This behavior has sometimes been attributed to the very similar bighead carp, but these do not normally jump when frightened.[5] Catching jumping carp in nets has become part of the Redneck Fishing Tournament in Bath, Illinois.[16]

As food
Koikoku (thick miso soup with carp)

Asian carp have been a popular food fish in Asia for thousands of years. Some recipes are specifically for carp such as the "sweet-and-sour carp" (Chinese: 糖醋鯉魚; pinyin: Tángcù Lǐyú) and "thick miso soup with carp" (Japanese: 鯉こく, romanized: Koikoku). However, many people in North America do not distinguish the various Asian carp species and see them all as undesirable trash fish because of their perceived bottom-feeding behavior, while, in fact, only some species are bottom-feeders. Furthermore, even the bottom-feeding species such as the common carp, a highly bony species which was introduced to North America from Europe in the 17th century, are important food fish outside North America.[17]

The pearly white flesh of carps — though complicated by a series of fine bones — is said to taste like cod or described as a cross between scallops and crabmeat. The filter-feeding silver and bighead carp, in particular, have much lower heavy metal contamination (such as mercury) than most other fish because they are algivorous primary consumers that do not eat other aquatic invertebrates or fishes and therefore are the least impacted by biomagnification.

Copi renaming

In June 2022,[18] the Illinois Department of Natural Resources announced a campaign to rebrand Asian carp as Copi.[19] The Copi renaming is a part of a Federal and state initiative to get the public to eat the invasive fish,[20] decrease its numbers in Midwestern waterways,[21] and prevent its introduction to the Great Lakes.[22]

Logo for Copi the new name for Asian carp
The Copi food truck at the 2023 Illinois State Fair in Springfield Illinois.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI)[23] is funding the Copi rebrand of Asian carp.[24]

Copi is available in restaurants in Illinois, Arizona and Washington, DC.; in 7 fish markets in Illinois and Tennessee; and through 7 fish distributors in Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Maryland and Wisconsin.[25] Success of the Copi rebrand of the invasive fish will be measured using pounds of removal as the key metric. Removal was projected to total 6,000,000 lbs at launch of the Copi rebrand, and increase to 12,000,000 in the first year following. Removal at 2 months from launch exceeded 10,000,000 lbs, on pace to beat year 1 projections.[26]

As an invasive species

Some species of Asian carp cause harm when they are introduced to new environments. The black carp feeds on native mussels and snails, some of which are already endangered. Grass carp can alter the food webs of a new environment by altering the communities of plants, invertebrates, and fish. Silver carp feed on the plankton necessary for larval fish and native mussels.[27]

North America
Main article: Asian carp in North America

Because of their prominence, and because they were imported to the United States much later than other carp native to Asia, the term "Asian carp" is often used with the intended meaning of only grass, black, silver, and bighead carp. In the U.S., Asian carp are considered to be invasive species. Of the Asian carp introduced to the United States, only two (crucian and black carp) are not known to be firmly established. Crucian carp is probably extirpated.[28] Since 2003, however, several adults, fertile black carp have been captured from the Atchafalaya and other rivers connected to the Mississippi River.[29] Dr. Leo Nico, in the book Black carp: Biological Synopsis and Risk Assessment of an Introduced Fish, reports that black carp are probably established in the United States. In South Florida, the local water management district actually stocks the canals with sterilized grass carp to control the hydrilla plant, which tends to block the locks and drainage valves used to control water flow from the Everglades.

Bighead and silver carp feed by filtering plankton from the water. The extremely high abundance of bighead and silver carp has caused great concern because of the potential for competition with native species for food and living space. Because of their filter-feeding habits, they are difficult to capture by normal angling methods.

History

In the late 19th century, the common carp was distributed widely throughout the United States by the United States Fish Commission as a foodfish.[30] In the 1970s, fish farmers in mostly southern states began importing Asian carp from China to help clean their commercial ponds.[31][32] The rise in the populations of bighead and silver carp has been dramatic where they are established in the Mississippi River basin.[33]

Distribution

Bighead, silver, and grass carp are known to be well-established in the Mississippi River basin (including tributaries), where they at times reach extremely high numbers, especially in the case of the bighead and silver carp. Bighead, silver, and grass carp have been captured in that watershed from Louisiana to South Dakota, Minnesota, and Ohio. Grass carp are also established in at least one other watershed, in Texas, and may be established elsewhere.

Grass carp have been captured in all of the Great Lakes except Lake Superior, but so far, no evidence indicates a reproducing population. No silver carp or black carp have yet been found in any of the Great Lakes. Common carp are abundant throughout the Great Lakes.

A few bighead and grass carp have been captured in Canada's portions of the Great Lakes, but no Asian carp (other than common carp) is known to be established in Canada at this time. Concerns exist that the silver carp may spread into Cypress Hills in Alberta and Saskatchewan through Battle Creek, the Frenchman River, and other rivers flowing south out of the hills into the Milk River. Ontario does not have Asian carp yet and has used the provincial Invasive Species Act[34] to prohibit their import.[35]

In Mexico, grass carp have been established for many years in at least two river systems, where they are considered invasive, but no other Asian carp are known to have been introduced.

Management

These fish are thought to be highly detrimental to the environment in parts of the United States.[36] Because of these concerns, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service convened stakeholders to develop a national plan for the management and control of invasive Asian carp (referring to bighead, silver, black, and grass carp).[37] The plan was accepted by the National Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force in the fall of 2007.

As of 2016, efforts were being made to reintroduce alligator gar between Tennessee and Illinois as part of an effort to control Asian carp.[38]

In 2019 the Kentucky declared "War on Carp" and started to use electro-fishing and sonic devices to remove 5 million pounds of Asian carp from Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake.[39]

Electro-fishing has become an extensive technique in population management of Asian carp throughout the Midwest's river systems. It involves the use of electric waves that stun (non-lethally) the invasive fish at the surface of the water, where fisherman can then corral them into net and remove from the ecosystem. Electro-fishing is also safe for the native species of fish that cohabit the waters where it is implemented, because they avoid the electro-fishing boats by diving deeper into the water column, where as the carp jump near the surface, getting stunned in the process.[40]

There have been conclusive results that have proven electro-fishing to be an effective and efficient way to manage the Asian carp invasion in Midwestern waterways. A typical electro-fishing boat can shock 100 carp per minute of fishing utilizing 110-500 volts of electricity, the fish captured are then humanely killed, and used as food or fertilizer for crops.[41] However, the technique has sparked questions about potential negative impacts that it may have on the rivers' ecosystems. If electro-fishing boats go over spawning grounds for native fish, it could potentially cause harm to fish embryos.[42]

Legislation

The Stop Asian Carp Act of 2011 was introduced to require the Secretary of the Army to study the feasibility of the hydrological separation, such as electric barriers, of the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins.[43] The act provided 30 days for the Secretary of the Army to begin a study on the best means of implementing a hydrological separation of the Great Lakes to prevent the introduction of Asian carp. The study requirements included researching techniques that prevented the spread of carp from flooding, wastewater and storm water infrastructure, waterway safety operations, and barge and recreational traffic.

In 2012, the U.S. Senate and House introduced new bills aimed at combating the spread of Asian carp into the Great Lakes by expediting some items of the Stop Asian Carp Act of 2011.[44] The legislation provides direction to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to complete their study within 18 months on how to separate the Great Lakes from the Mississippi watersheds.

The Water Resources Development Act of 2020 was passed by Congress to provide $25 million to efforts against the invasive species in the Tennessee and Cumberland river basins.[45]

In April of 2023, a new, extensive plan was created by the Invasive Carp Regional Coordinating Committee to launch over 50 projects to combat the growing Asian carp invasion in the Great Lakes region of the Midwest. The committee is partnering with a collaboration of 26 U.S. and Canadian federal, state, provincial, tribal, regional and local agencies to work on new technologies and strategies to implement against Asian carp spreading to the Great Lakes.[46]

The 2023 Invasive Carp Action Plan includes the following:

-The Brandon Road Project, led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to prevent carp from entering the Great Lakes by establishing structural and non-structural control measures in Will County, Illinois.

-The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is working with the committee to upgrade sections of the earthen berm at Little Killbuck Creek, Ohio. This location contains a hydraulic connection between the Mississippi River and the Lake Eire water sheds when the water is high. This projects aims to close this aquatic pathway for the invasive species of carp, and further prevent their spreading into Lake Erie.

-Operating electric dispersal barriers in the Chicago Area Waterway System, to include the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal that connects to Lake Michigan.

-The U.S. army Corps of Engineers will also conduct experiments with new technologies in underwater acoustics and carbon dioxide deterrent barriers to prevent the migration of invasive carp into the Great Lakes region.

-The Department of Natural Resources will also organize commercial fishing of the invasive carp species in the upper Illinois River to reduce the population and the risk of upstream expansion northbound.

See also

References
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  2. Merriam Webster Dictionary Copi Definition
  3. "A copi fillet Illinois hopes new name for invasive carp will convince diners, PBS Newshour, June, 2022
  4. "Save the planet by eating this big ugly fish, Wired, March 2023"
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Further reading
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