Asian Carp: A Threat to America's Rivers

Asian Carp are quickly becoming the invasive species to beat. They are showing up and taking over in rivers across the country and threatening native species by out-competing fish for the plankton that forms the base of the aquatic food chain. We met with a fisherman on the Peoria River who was tackling the very fish who could soon be invading your nearest river, to see what our future hopefully doesn't hold.

For more videos and recipes visit www.theperennialplate.com

 

Follow Daniel Klein on Twitter: www.twitter.com/perennialplate

Comments

[HowlingVoyager]

02:17 PM on 05/10/2012

Aside from a lot of bones, they're not bad to eat. Carefully cleaned and boned - seriously, pay close attention - the flesh is firm and comparable to talapia in taste. We've a very large Asian market in our neighborhood and carp is always on sale and pennies on the dollar when it comes to the prices of more 'marketable' fish. Like talapia, carp also holds up well to freezing, so buying it in bulk when available is an option as well.

Steamed, grilled, breaded and fried, it's very versatile. Lemon pepper fan fry is our favorite quick lunch.

[treemonkey]

01:20 PM on 05/10/2012

Another example of an invasive species ruining our rivers, forests, and streams is easy to find. Just look in the mirror.

[scottsdalebubbe]

11:27 PM on 05/09/2012

Steamed Asian style. Clean and gut the fish, cut off the head. Place beheaded body on a heatproof dinner platter. Fill the cavity with lots of sliced green onion and grated fresh ginger to your taste. Pour 1:1 soy sauce and saki over the fish; shake a bit of ground 5-spice over it. Pour 1 c water in the bottom of a wok. Evenly place 2 blunt end chopsticks across the wok. Place the platter with the fish on the chopsticks. Be sure water does not flow over the plate. Cover the wok and steam, once the water boils, for 10 minutes. Remove wok lid. Fish will be done when flaky but moist. Remove flesh from bones. Serve with sauce and vegetables over steamed rice.

[baxtron]

09:30 AM on 05/09/2012

Great story for 2008. Fishermen are selling these fish to Chinese restaurants in MN. They jump right into the boat, and there is no limit on killing them.

[undsoweiter]

09:15 AM on 05/09/2012

The McCarp sandwich?

[gypsysailor]

11:16 PM on 05/08/2012

These fish are good to eat. You can cook them anyway you want to and they will be good. Just make sure you clean them properly.

[Daniel Klein]

10:25 AM on 05/09/2012

yes, they have a lot of bones

[dragonet2]

10:15 PM on 05/08/2012

They are freaking scary because they are big and tend to 'bolt' upwards when disturbed by boats, etc. They have hurt, and I think, killed people fishing.

[Daniel Klein]

10:25 AM on 05/09/2012

most of the huge ones have been caught, this fisherman said the fish have changed dramatically since they first appeared

[French Toast]

09:26 PM on 05/08/2012

We have unemployed people, people love to fish, soup kitchens always need eats. I'm thinking there's a way to fix this. Serve it with kudzu. BAM.

[Daniel Klein]

10:26 AM on 05/09/2012

put it in fish fingers?

[yappnmutt]

04:16 PM on 05/08/2012

soy sauce and mirin with a little ginger, garlic and roasted soybean oil marinated then poached in the sauce with some rice, fresh and pickled veggies. mmmm-mmmm good.

[Daniel Klein]

10:26 AM on 05/09/2012

yum

[ontariogirl]

03:33 PM on 05/08/2012

We also have them. They are a growing problem for all of us.

[climbing panda]

03:14 PM on 05/08/2012

all you have to do is make it tasty

[Daniel Klein]

10:26 AM on 05/09/2012

they say they can't catch enough, so there is a market for it... as it is tasty.