![]() ![]() The fish can add or subtract air within their swim bladder to help them float higher or sink lower. Many other types of bony fish have a gas-filled organ similar to a balloon in their body cavity. Blobfish have a unique adaptation that allows them to survive at such great depths: they lack a swim bladder, which is unique to most fish in the world. These small (30 cm) fish are typically found in the Pacific Ocean off the coasts of Australia and Tasmania, often in very deep water at depths of 600 to 1300 meters (up to roughly 4000 feet) in a region known as the bathyal zone. It reports on food systems, agriculture and rural issues.One of the most incredible things about blobfish is where they are able to live. “We need to remove as many of these fish as possible, so you can consider this one tool in the toolbox,” Parkos said.įollow Dana on Twitter: story was produced in partnership with Harvest Public Media, a collaboration of public media newsrooms in the Midwest. Others, though, see this as a good starting point, including long-time carp researcher Joe Parkos with the Illinois Natural History Survey. Some states, including Missouri, have opted out of the new name. “Illinois DNR needs to focus on restoring habitat in and along rivers and reducing pollutant loads rather than guessing at the public’s eating preferences,” wrote Robert Hirschfeld in a blog post for the environmental group Prairie Rivers Network. Some environmental groups have expressed disappointment that the department is spending $600,000 on a rebrand rather than on river health restoration. So, for now, both names - copi and carp - will appear on packaged goods. One of the requirements for the agency’s approval is widespread use of the new name, according to the team. Ultimately, the copi marketing team hopes the new name will get FDA approval. Provided by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources "Copi" burgers are just one way to cook the fish, according to Chicago-based chef Brian Jupiter. He said his favorite thing to make is copi burgers, and that he also uses copi as a binder in his crab cakes. Jupiter said the fish has a clean flavor profile, but also has a bone structure such that deboning can be difficult. “You can create all these different types of dishes, but also use spices that you really like because the flavor of the fish itself isn’t gonna overpower anything.” “I think one of the best things is that it’s extremely versatile,” said Brian Jupiter, one Chicago-based chef. Some restaurants in the Chicago area are already on board, touting dishes like copi burgers and copi po’ boys. The ‘copi’ marketing campaign targets restaurants and markets as well as consumers of fish in an effort to create a food-based market for the fish. “This is the largest, most impactful initiative IDNR, or any other environmental organization, has ever instituted in the Midwest to control carp,” Irons said. But some fish escaped confinement, ultimately establishing a self-sustaining population. Currently, Illinois has electric barriers and targeted removal efforts in place to prevent that spread.īut the fish’s reach extends far beyond Illinois, Irons said, including throughout the Mississippi River basin and the central and southern U.S.Īsian carp were initially introduced to the area to help clean up waterways, which, in the 1970s, were suffering from intense algae blooms. ![]() The goal is to prevent the fish from entering the Great Lakes, where they could disrupt the lake ecosystem and find their way to other estuaries further upstream. That’s crowding out native fish species, he said, creating more competition for food sources like phytoplankton. “In the Illinois River, as much as 70% of the biomass - or weight of fish - are Asian carps,” said Kevin Irons with the Illinois DNR. ![]()
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