Illinois DNR Want To Rename The Invasive Asian Carp

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is going to rename the invasive Asian carp also known as a silver carp and try to rebrand it to eat.

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Asian Carp or Silver Carp

The silver carp is one of the many varieties of Asian carp that originated in China. It's an invasive fish that has spread to 88 countries around the world. They can get up to 24 to 55 inches in length and weigh all the way up to 110 pounds.

These silver carp have gone wild in the Mississippi River and pose a threat to the entire ecosystem of the river if they get into the Great Lakes, could be devasting to all other fish species.

Redneck Fishing for Silver Carp

Every year there is a Redneck Fishing Tournament that happens in Illinois where when spawning the carp jump high out of the river and fishermen with nets attempt to net them. This also helps get them out of the river system.

It looks like a lot of fun and is effective in removing some of the fish but anglers can't catch them all so the Illinois DNR is going to rename the fish and attempt to rebrand them so people will eat them.

Illinois DNR to Rename Asian Carp

Asian/Silver Carp are different than regular carp that feed on the bottom, Asian carp eat plankton and are a cleaner fish which makes them more eatable.

The Illinois DNR wants to rename the fish to make it sound more palatable so people will eat it and more anglers will spend time catching them for consumption.

WOOD-TV reported that John Rogner, the assistant director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources said, "We're trying to make the name more attractive, so people will be more inclined to purchase them and have them for table fare, have them for dinner."

The Illinois DNR is going to release the new name of the silver carp this week.

Renaming a fish to convince people to eat is not a new idea, this has been done several times before.

You probably wouldn't eat a Chilean Sea Bass when it was called a Patagonian toothfish or a slimehead that later became known as orange roughy.

Is Asian Carp/Silver Carp Safe to Eat?

WOOD-TV reported that Dirk Fucik who owns a gourmet fish shop in Chicago said when the fish are prepared properly they are delicious and healthy.

Silver carp are actually far healthier to eat than Tilapia.

I'm not sure I would eat a silver carp but I definitely know I would love to go bow fishing for these bad boys because it looks like a lot of fun.