The Chef Cooking Up Invasive Species
Print Media  |  Tue - March 13, 2018 6:46 am  |  Article Hits:4137
Photo:  Silverfin™ Group, Bill Baltas
Photo: Silverfin™ Group, Bill Baltas

The Chef Cooking Up Invasive Species

March 13, 2018  | Atlas Obscura |  Anne Ewbank 

Asian carp are big fish: big in size, and big in numbers. Originally imported to the American south in the 1970s as cleaners of ponds and wastewater facilities, they escaped into the Mississippi River and now clog waterways across the United States. Easily startled by motors, they have been known to jump into boats, causing broken noses and black eyes for unwary fishermen. Some carp can weigh a hundred pounds.

Fast-multiplying and with few predators, these fish aren’t just dangerous for humans. They have big appetites for plankton, plants, and even snails, the food sources of native species. The Great Lakes are especially imperiled, and millions of dollars have been poured into research and underwater barriers to keep them away. News reports treat carp sightings near Lake Michigan like hurricanes threatening a city.   READ MORE AT ATLAS OBSCURA...
 

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