What Do Chilean Sea Bass, Orange Roughy, and Copi Have in Common? It’s All in the Name!
In an effort to rebrand invasive carp to a U.S. audience, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is leading the effort to get carp on the shelves under a new name.
Carp are one of the biggest threats facing the Great Lakes and have been steadily making their way north up the Mississippi River towards Lake Michigan. There are several species of carp typically referred to as Asian carp, however, we’ll refer to them as invasive carp simply because not all come from Asia and all carp species are invasive in North America. Common carp (Cyprinus carpio), silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), big-headed carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis), black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus), and grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) have been introduced to the U.S. through a variety of means (intentional stocking, escapes, etc.) though only common and grass carp are found in the CRISP PRISM.
Carp are a major food source in other areas of the world and common carp were even introduced to U.S. waterways as a food source in the 1800s. However, carp are considered trash fish here in the U.S. and the market for them is small despite carp being in abundance. In an effort to change its negative image as a fish for people to eat, the IDNR is leading the charge to change the shelf name of grass, silver, and big-headed carp to Copi. It’s a strategy that has worked well for other fishes such as the Patagonian toothfish, the slimehead, and the yellow-eye snapper. All sound rather unappetizing until you realize Patagonian toothfish sells for about $8/lb. under the name Chilean sea bass.
The Monterey Bay Seafood Watch recommends Copi as a responsible choice due to its overabundance and the positive impacts of its removal on the ecosystem. Copi is high in Omega-3 and -6 fatty acids with little to no mercury because it primarily feeds on plankton and vegetation. The IDNR describes it as ‘…more savory than tilapia, cleaner tasting than catfish, less flaky than cod.’ It can be cooked in a variety of ways; pan-fried, baked, grilled, and more.
Copi, coming to a store near you! Will you give it a try?