January 2016 - Parks & Recreation - 44

NRPA Update
Focus on Education: Insights from Academia

'Carpe Carpam': Conservation
Through Gastronomy
By Mark Morgan, Ph.D.

ilver and bighead carp, collectively known as Asian carp, were imported
from China in the 1970s as a biological control to remove algae and improve water quality in fish farms in Arkansas. Unfortunately, both species
escaped captivity during flooding, and these fast-growing, plankton-eating fish quickly expanded their range throughout the Missouri/Mississippi River
Basin. In the ensuing years, they have swiftly spread up the Illinois River in the
direction of the Great Lakes and can now be found in 40 states.
Because they reduce primary food
sources for native species, in this case
catfish, paddlefish, buffalo and gizzard shad, Asian carp pose serious
problems for aquatic ecosystems.
Massive die-offs of carp affect our
nation's waterways because of bacterial contamination and the odor from
dead fish, thus hindering tourism.
Moreover, silver carp, which can grow

to more than 100 pounds, tend to leap
from the water when disturbed, causing property damage and personal injury to recreational boaters. Efforts are
underway by the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers to prevent Asian carp from
entering the Great Lakes, threatening
a multibillion dollar commercial and
recreational fishing industry.
Invasive species, such as Asian carp,

The author, pleased with his heavy net bearing a large carp.

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are difficult to eradicate once they occupy an ecological niche. Since carp cannot be caught by rod and reel, angling
is not a solution, and carp tournaments
only provide temporary relief. Commercial harvest is a viable option, but
the supply of fish is much larger than
current demand. Some uses include as
fertilizer, bait, fish oil and pet food. Human consumption is a solution if the
image problem can be overcome.
Merging Social Science
with Natural Resources
In the United States, silver and bighead carp are regarded as " trash "
fish mainly due to their appearance
and boniness which makes them difficult to fillet. In contrast, I learned
from my visits to China, Vietnam
and Thailand, that carp are highly
revered in Asian culture, often featured in artwork and literature. Eaten
regularly in Asian countries, carp are
one of the least-consumed fish in the
United States. With this cultural insight, I developed " Eat Mo Carp, " a
marketing-based strategy designed to
promote awareness and consumption
of Asian carp in grocery stores and
restaurants in Columbia, Missouri.
Asian carp are a plentiful, healthy,
and cheap source of protein. The
white meat has a mild flavor which
contains omega-3 fatty acids and accepts spices and seasonings quite well.
Silver and bighead carp have low levels of toxins, such as mercury because
of their midstream feeding behavior

January 2016 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of January 2016 - Parks & Recreation