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Asian Carp in North America

As Food
There are campaigns to increase American consumption of the Asian Carp. One such campaign is the “Cant Beat Em’ Eat Em” campaign started by a coalition of representatives from Louisiana and Illinois. The man behind the campaign, Louisiana Chef Philippe Parola, was inspired by legendary Chef Paul Prudhomme and his Blackened Red Fish. The blackening was to make the fish more appealing to a wider consumer base. Another campaign in Illinois is in full swing at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The university now offers the fish in various forms in their cafeteria. Students can swipe their cards for Silverfin Sliders, Smoked Silverfin, or fried Silverfin. “The Perfect Catch” campaign will begin a media blitz the summer of 2021 to help with the rebranding of the fish. The new name is currently being kept a secret. As part of the campaign, they will push the attributes of the of fish. Saying they are flaky, low in mercury, and rich in protein and Omega-3s.

From 2010 to January 2019, Illinois contract fishermen have harvested 7.5 million pounds of carp from the Illinois River. Most of the haul is used to make bait, fertilizer, and pet food.

Litigation
After obtaining information showing DNA evidence of Asian carp in Lake Michigan, Michigan again requested the Chicago locks be closed on February 4, 2010. This request was denied on March 25, 2010. Four months later, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio, and Pennsylvania joined Michigan in the court battle on July 19, 2010 when the five states filed suit against the US Army Corp of Engineers and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago in federal district court. The were again seeking to close the locks.

One thing they did was file an injunction to have the locks closed. The injunction was denied on December 2, 2010. The states filed an appeal for the injunction on January 26, 2011 and was denied on August 24, 2011. The Supreme court was petitioned to review the appeal for the injunction and declined to review it on February 27, 2012.

In December of 2012, the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois dismissed the lawsuit. The court determined that if the Great Lakes were hydrologically separated from the Mississippi River Basin, it would violate federal laws requiring the US Army Corp of Engineers to maintain a route of navigable water ways between the two systems. Because of this conflict, the states were given until January 11, 2013 to re-plead the case in a different manner or may appeal the dismissal in the Seventh Circuit.

In Louisiana
While the threat to the Great Lakes is abundantly clear, the Asian carp poses risks everywhere. A survey conducted in 2013 and 2014 of the Mississippi, Atchafalaya, Ouachita, and Red Rivers found that 14% of juvenile fish were Asian carp. The results of a 20 year study in the Upper Mississippi Basin show that the Asian carp population out-competes native sport-fish species. One Louisiana fisherman made the claim in 2018 that he could fish the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers for four hours and net 47,000 pounds of Asian carp. LDWF invasive species biologist Bobby Reed feels that the lack of anglers targeting the Asian carp are allowing the populations in the state to continue to grow. Chef Phillipe Parola feels the population can become a problem for current seafood industries, i.e. shrimp, oyster, crab, and crawfish. In fact, Parola’s first batch of Silverfin Cakes were harvested from 100,000 pounds of Asian carp taken from the Tensas River.

Sound as a deterrent
The fish response to loud noises range from nothing to death. There is short term avoidance, where fish just simple move away from the sound, and long term avoidance, where fish alter their behavior to completely avoid the sound. A fish can also lose its hearing.

The United States Geological Survey is conducting research on the effects that sound has on the Asian Carp. The obvious connection is how the carp jump out of the water when a boat is going by. The current focus is finding sounds that will affect the Asian Carp and not the native fish. One active study being conducted in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Engineer Research and Development Center, the University of Minnesota Duluth, & US Fish and Wildlife service found that the noise of a 100 HP boat motor to be highly effective. In fact, one study found that the noise of a boat motor impacted the Asian carp in one study and had little to no impact on the native fish population.

Other concerns with the use of sound can include damage to underwater structures, negative impacts on navigation, public safety, and potential weakening of shore lines.

Barriers
There are currently plans for a barrier to be built at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam in Joliet, Illinois. It will include electricity, audio sounds, and bubbles as deterrents. While the facilty is estimated at $778 Million, it is believed it will save the $7 Billion annually fishing industry in the Great Lakes.

Other
US Rep. Clay Higgins has been calling for a bounty program since 2018. He feels as though the one  enacted with the Coastwide Nutria Control Program has had good results and believes it can be replicated with the Asian carp.