JOIN THE FIGHT!
Asian carp are muscling the native fish out of America's waterways, and it's our job to stop them. Explore this site to learn how eating Asian carp meat can give our sport fish a fighting chance.
The term "Asian carp" actually refers to two closely related species: the bighead carp (Hypopthalmichthys nobilis) and the silver carp (Hypopthalmichthys molitrix), both extremely harmful invasive species. Since being introduced to the U.S. in the 1970s, they have spread throughout most of the Mississippi River Basin, establishing huge populations and outcompeting native fish. Furthermore, silver carp pose a safety threat to humans. They jump high out of the water when startled by moving boats, and when they collide with boaters, being fairly large fish, they have been known to break bones.
Silver carp are a well-known problem, and have even been featured in Animal Planet's hit series River Monsters. Electric barriers have been built to keep them out of the Great Lakes, and many plans have been proposed for their reduction and control. Yet they continue to run rampant. However, I believe that one method, frequently suggested but never implemented, could be effective in decimating their population. Asian carp are popular food fish in other countries, and have been overfished before in their native range, therefore, it should be possible to do the same in America. American fishermen seem reluctant to pursue Asian carp, because they think that in this country there is no market for them, but if Americans showed themselves willing to eat carp, then commercial fishermen would have no reason not to harvest them. My research, which this site presents, aims to investigate whether Americans could be easily convinced to eat Asian carp and save the country's waterways.
Linear Paper Version Tactical Media Project Reflective Learning Essay
Silver carp are a well-known problem, and have even been featured in Animal Planet's hit series River Monsters. Electric barriers have been built to keep them out of the Great Lakes, and many plans have been proposed for their reduction and control. Yet they continue to run rampant. However, I believe that one method, frequently suggested but never implemented, could be effective in decimating their population. Asian carp are popular food fish in other countries, and have been overfished before in their native range, therefore, it should be possible to do the same in America. American fishermen seem reluctant to pursue Asian carp, because they think that in this country there is no market for them, but if Americans showed themselves willing to eat carp, then commercial fishermen would have no reason not to harvest them. My research, which this site presents, aims to investigate whether Americans could be easily convinced to eat Asian carp and save the country's waterways.
Linear Paper Version Tactical Media Project Reflective Learning Essay
This site was created by Joey Benevento in Emory University's Domain of One's Own Program as part of an English 212W class with Professor Marc Bousquet.