GREAT OUTDOORS: By any name, carp have taken a costly toll on U.S. waterways

Discussions surfaced this week about U.S. government agencies pushing to change the name of Asian carp to prevent the stigmatization of people from that continent. Regardless of what these invasive fish are called, the fact remains that the native range of all carp is indeed Asia, and they have taken a heavy toll on our waterways. Initially during the early 1990s, but more notably after widespread flooding in 1995, silver carp, bighead carp and black carp escaped into the Mississippi River watershed. Huge numbers of silver carp and bighead carp have spread into virtually all of the Mississippi River tributaries, including the Ohio River and its larger tributaries within Ohio. In the Mississippi River watershed, commercial netters are catching them mainly for use as pet food, but authorities have been trying to come up with a snappy new name for them that people will accept for their dinner table. The flavor of this fish is said to be very good and consumers in Asia tolerate the presence of the tiny, impossible-to-remove bones more than those here who insist on boneless fillets. However, the name "carp" also is negatively associated here with the often muddy-tasting and chemically contaminated fish enduring in some of our most polluted waters. While their presence is not quite as dreaded, grass carp have been used for decades for vegetation control in ponds, with some states requiring sterilized fish to be used. Some allow fertile specimens and others do not allow any to be stocked. The common carp originated in Asia, before being liberated throughout Europe, where many enjoyed their table qualities. In fact, the fish is the featured meat dish at Christmas in some countries. Immigrants to the U.S. convinced the government that they needed to be stocked here, too. Home to more desirable fish species such as salmon, steelhead trout, walleye and yellow perch, biologists have predicted that Asian carp invading the Great Lakes would destroy a sport and recreational fishery annually worth $7 billion. Carp are not the only Asian species that have reached North America. The Asian tiger mosquito, the Emerald ash borer, Asiatic clam, Chinese mitten crab, Asian longhorn beetle and the spotted lanternfly have collectively costed citizens of North America billions of dollars since their introductions here. Emerald ash borers are thought to have been transported to the Detroit/Windsor area in North America in infested shipping pallets in the late 1990s. Now found in 37 states, they have wiped out billions of native North American ash trees. Locally, the borers were first discovered in 2005 next to a Carroll Township marina/campground, likely from campers illegally bringing in infected firewood from Michigan. The Asiatic clam has spread into 46 states since their introduction in the U.S. in the late 1930s. It is a bio-fouling mollusk that clogs water intakes. Intolerant to cold temperatures, they persist in Lake Erie by overwintering in warm water discharges. The Asian long-horned beetle, which has been seen in southwest Ohio, prefers maples, threatening the maple syrup industry in North America. It also feeds on elm, buckeye, ash, willow and other species. Currently, Ohioans are also urged to be on the lookout for the spotted lanternfly, another pest that targets grapevines, maple, walnut and fruit trees. Being aware of the origin of invasive species may help ensure that those in charge of monitoring imported goods remain steadfast to taking the necessary precautions to prevent future introductions of undesirable invasive species from Asia or anywhere else.