The saga of the Asian carp is a major problem in many of the lakes and streams in Illinois. Trying to rid this invasive species that was introduced in U.S. waters is not an easy task. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) considers this fish species a plankton-gobbling nuisance. Asian carp are showing a great threat to the Great Lakes and the numerous waterways in Illinois. The IDNR have come up with a way to make use of these fish. In September of 2011, IDNR held a public tasting event to sample what these bottom feeding fish taste like. A Louisiana chef by the name Philippe Parola says that “fish are one of the greatest resources we have”. Hundreds of people attended this taste testing event, but they were not aware of what they were eating. This was done to prevent the volunteers of having a negative attitude before they even tasted it. It was a success, says Philippe, many people gave two thumbs up. There were many comments stating how flavorful and light tasting the fish tasted.
This new idea for using Asian carp was for feeding the hungry and also making use of this unwanted fish in Illinois waters. I personally think this is a great idea because it serves two positive purposes. It is a great idea to make use of an animal that may be killed or harmed when they are captured. This is where I feel environmental ethics comes into play. We have to remember that this invasive species is still an animal that we should treat with same respect as a sport fish, such as a Musky. This is an ongoing issue that the public is paying for with their tax dollars to sustain this threat to our waterways. This has been in the news frequently stating that Asian carp will be served at homes or kitchens that house people facing hunger. I would think that this is a great idea because we will know if it is actually going to use or being thrown away. This new way for making use of an unwanted fish is spreading in the U.S. and internationally where the fish populations are scarce. Overall, this could be a great way to gain income and help clean up Illinois waters
Tareen, Sophia. "Illinois Launches Asian Carp Anti-hunger Program." Associated Press [New York] 23 Sept. 2011. Print.
1 comment:
I really like your idea for using the Asian carp for a food source, and using them to feed the hunger is an even better idea.
Another thing you also can think of is the use of them as a sport fish, and marketing them that way too. Although they cannot be caught with a hook and line, their jumping ability offers up another unique area to exploit. You can target them through the sport of bow fishing. Having personally done this I can say that this is a blast, and anyone who hunts with a bow should give jumping carp a try.
Joe Kurmrie
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