AUTHORS: James E. Garvey, jgarvey@siu.edu, Center for Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, USA Kevin S. Irons, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Springfield, IL, USA Gina Behnfeldt, Tetra Tech, Langhorne, PA, USA
ABSTRACT: Invasive bigheaded carps (Hypophthalmichthys spp.) threaten rivers of the central US, the Great Lakes, and potentially other drainages in North America. A pilot commercial fishing incentive program was initiated in the lower Illinois River in 2012 to help control carp populations, which rapidly removed 1,500 tons of biomass. In 2019, a modified incentive program began and has expanded to other invaded river basins. In 2022, a branding and marketing effort named the seafood product derived from bigheaded carp as Copi, allowing consumers to recognize these fishes as an environmentally sound and responsible alternative to other seafood choices in North America. The Copi brand has gained interest nationwide, with food processors and distributors engaged. A total of 7,650 tons of Copi have been removed from the Illinois River and Ohio River Basins. The challenge will be to develop a self-supporting regional fishing industry that controls and contains these fishes while also aiding fisheries and aquaculture for native species.
