Harvesting and Marketing Asian Carp:Harvesting and Marketing Asian Carp:Opportunities and ObstaclesOpportunities and Obstacles

Steven J. Shults

Illinois Department of Natural Resources

October 3, 2007

““If meetings could kill invasive If meetings could kill invasive species, theyspecies, they’’d all be dead by now!d all be dead by now!””

–– unknown government biologistunknown government biologist

Management ActivitiesManagement ActivitiesPublic perception of Public perception of ““carpcarp””

Assistance in Market DevelopmentAssistance in Market Development–– Population estimatesPopulation estimates–– Content analysis Content analysis –– Contaminant analysisContaminant analysis–– Product developmentProduct development

Sustainabe harvest vs. population managementSustainabe harvest vs. population management–– Preferred Habitat (Stainbrook et. al., 2007)Preferred Habitat (Stainbrook et. al., 2007)–– Stock Stock -- Recruit Modeling (Hoff et. al., 2007)Recruit Modeling (Hoff et. al., 2007)–– MRBPMRBP’’s s ““Commercial ANS HarvestCommercial ANS Harvest”” GuidelinesGuidelines

Would you really eat those?Would you really eat those?ThatThat’’s the ugliest fish Is the ugliest fish I’’ve ever seen!ve ever seen!

OROR

Public PerceptionPublic Perception

Oliver Ready Oliver Ready -- Grafton IL, April 2006Grafton IL, April 2006

Chicago Reader: April 21, 2006Chicago Reader: April 21, 2006

““In America the carp is looked at as trash In America the carp is looked at as trash fish,fish,”” says Mike Schafer. says Mike Schafer. ““But in Europe But in Europe and Oriental countries itand Oriental countries it’’s not looked at s not looked at that way.that way.””

Chicago Reader, April 21, 2006Chicago Reader, April 21, 2006[State Senator Mike] Jacobs has tried eating the [State Senator Mike] Jacobs has tried eating the carp and says itcarp and says it’’s s ““pretty good,pretty good,”” similar to similar to pollack, though he doesnpollack, though he doesn’’t think people are t think people are going to be eager to eat something called Asian going to be eager to eat something called Asian carp. Hecarp. He’’s lobbying to s lobbying to rename it the Illini solerename it the Illini sole. . HeHe’’s also championing the idea of selling the s also championing the idea of selling the meat to Illinois prisons, pushing to get carp meat to Illinois prisons, pushing to get carp processors on the stateprocessors on the state’’s list of approved s list of approved vendors for food supplied to prisonersvendors for food supplied to prisoners. . ““I think I think theythey’’re an obvious market because theyre an obvious market because they’’re a re a captive audience,captive audience,”” he says.he says.

Market DevelopmentMarket Development

Population EstimatesPopulation EstimatesContent AnalysisContent AnalysisContaminant AnalysisContaminant AnalysisProduct DevelopmentProduct Development

Population estimatePopulation estimate

IDNR estimate (2003)IDNR estimate (2003)–– Carrying capacity estimate based Carrying capacity estimate based

on river acreage and published on river acreage and published biomass of filterbiomass of filter--feeding fishes.feeding fishes.

–– Between 13,851,000 and Between 13,851,000 and 24,597,000 kg (31 24,597,000 kg (31 -- 54 million 54 million lbs.)lbs.)

–– In some areas, Asian carp could In some areas, Asian carp could comprise 95% of this total.comprise 95% of this total.

Population estimatePopulation estimateAcoustic Biomass Survey (2006)Acoustic Biomass Survey (2006)

–– Illinois River and its backwaters Illinois River and its backwaters contain a minimum of 5,425,000 kg contain a minimum of 5,425,000 kg (12 million lbs) of Asian carp 3(12 million lbs) of Asian carp 3--9 kg 9 kg (7(7--20 lbs.) in size.20 lbs.) in size.

–– 68.8% of these are bighead carp (68.8% of these are bighead carp (H. H. nobilisnobilis))

–– 31.0% are silver carp (31.0% are silver carp (H. molitrixH. molitrix))

Not based on visual identification!!!Not based on visual identification!!!

Content AnalysisContent AnalysisAsian carp are suitable source of protein for various products:

– human food– animal feeds – feed supplements– fatty acid extraction

Study based on many factors:Study based on many factors:

–– DressDress--out weightout weight–– Protein contentProtein content–– Ash contentAsh content–– Fats / oils / lipidsFats / oils / lipids

Contaminant AnalysisContaminant Analysis

Rogowski et. al. (2005) examined 30 Asian carp for heavy metals and Organic pollutants:

– Concentrations of measured contaminants were relatively low in all fish sampled.

– None of the fish exceeded any advisory concentration for PCB or chlordane.

– Mean values for mercury fell well below the most conservative advisory concentration bracket.

Heavy metalsHeavy metalsHeavy metals in muscle tissue of bighead and Heavy metals in muscle tissue of bighead and

silver carps is much lower than canned tuna and silver carps is much lower than canned tuna and other species of fish. other species of fish.

–– Arsenic and seleniumArsenic and selenium

Individual fish vary, but Individual fish vary, but ““pooledpooled”” fish are below fish are below Illinois advisory levels.Illinois advisory levels.

–– Skin was removed.Skin was removed.

SemiSemi--volatile Organicsvolatile Organics

Most organic analytes in fish were below Most organic analytes in fish were below detection levels detection levels

All Asian carp had PCB levels lower than All Asian carp had PCB levels lower than any Illinois advisory levels any Illinois advisory levels

Product and Market Product and Market DevelopmentDevelopment

Big River Fish Corp.Big River Fish Corp.–– Basic content analysis Basic content analysis –– Accept commercial catch seasonallyAccept commercial catch seasonally–– Smoked, dressed fish for ethnic marketsSmoked, dressed fish for ethnic markets

Carp Protein Products Ltd.Carp Protein Products Ltd.–– Illinois River population and biomass surveysIllinois River population and biomass surveys–– Proposed facility for protein extraction for pharmaceuticalsProposed facility for protein extraction for pharmaceuticals–– High startHigh start--up cost, availability / sustainability ??up cost, availability / sustainability ??

Schafer FisheriesSchafer Fisheries–– Work with prison industries for boneless patties and othersWork with prison industries for boneless patties and others–– Potential to sell 10 million lbs. / yearPotential to sell 10 million lbs. / year–– 100% usage (Zero Waste Stream)100% usage (Zero Waste Stream)

Other Marketable IdeasOther Marketable Ideas

Canned Asian carpCanned Asian carp

Oregon State UniversityOregon State University

An international buffet of new seafoodAn international buffet of new seafood--based delicacies made from fish that based delicacies made from fish that no one else wanted.no one else wanted.

Questionable StrategiesQuestionable Strategies

Gift Idea for your favorite in-laws?

Sustainabe Harvest vs. Population Sustainabe Harvest vs. Population ManagementManagement

Preferred Habitat MappingPreferred Habitat MappingStockStock--Recruit ModelingRecruit ModelingMississippi River Basin Panel Mississippi River Basin Panel ““Commercial ANS HarvestCommercial ANS Harvest”” guidelinesguidelines

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1895 1915 1935 19751955 1995

Year

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sCommercial Fish Catch -- Illinois River

No data available for these years

In the 1890s-1910, a 200-mile reach of the river produced 10 % of the total U.S. catch of freshwater fish -- more than any other river in America.

IllinoisIllinois’’ Rivers Economic ValueRivers Economic Value

Economic impact of fishing and boating on Economic impact of fishing and boating on IllinoisIllinois’’ large rivers = $1,200,000,000. large rivers = $1,200,000,000. (1998 data (1998 data provided by IDNR)provided by IDNR)

–– Reduced catch of traditional commercial species.Reduced catch of traditional commercial species.–– Reduced participation in recreational boating.Reduced participation in recreational boating.–– Reduced participation in professional and recreational Reduced participation in professional and recreational

angling.angling.–– Increase in unique or novelty events (Increase in unique or novelty events (““Redneck Fish Redneck Fish

TournamentTournament””))

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1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Year

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00Commercial Harvest for the Illinois River

1990-2003

Buffalo spp. Common Carp Asian carp spp.Data provided by Rob Maher (IDNR) *2003 data preliminary

Preferred Habitat Preferred Habitat –– Middle Illinois RiverMiddle Illinois River

Figure 21. Summary of Illinois Waterway habitat suitability witFigure 21. Summary of Illinois Waterway habitat suitability within our study reach and the hin our study reach and the La Grange Pool. La Grange Pool.

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Preferred Habitat Preferred Habitat –– Upper Illinois RiverUpper Illinois River

Preferred Habitat Preferred Habitat –– Upper Illinois RiverUpper Illinois River(areas Asian carp would mostly occupy circled)(areas Asian carp would mostly occupy circled)

StockStock--Recruit ModelsRecruit Models

Developed to help sustain and enhance Developed to help sustain and enhance populations of preferred speciespopulations of preferred species

Can also be used to help control populations Can also be used to help control populations of invasive speciesof invasive species

StockStock--Recruit ModelsRecruit Models

These models help determine an Optimum These models help determine an Optimum Stock AbundanceStock Abundance

Minimum # of individuals required for successful Minimum # of individuals required for successful recruitmentrecruitment

Influencing factorsInfluencing factors

Stock abundance can be influenced Stock abundance can be influenced through abiotic variablesthrough abiotic variables

–– Water dischargeWater discharge–– affects flowaffects flow–– modifies habitatmodifies habitat

availabilityavailability

Other Influencing factorsOther Influencing factors

Stock abundance can be controlled Stock abundance can be controlled through biotic variablesthrough biotic variables

–– Increase # of predatorsIncrease # of predators

–– Decrease # of spawning Decrease # of spawning individuals (HARVEST)individuals (HARVEST)

Bighead Carp Study AreasBighead Carp Study AreasIllinois Natural History SurveyIllinois Natural History Survey

LaGrange Reach, IL RiverPool 26, Miss. River

Bighead carp

Model ResultsModel Results

The models explained The models explained 83% of the recruitment 83% of the recruitment variabilityvariability–– Stock size explained Stock size explained

72% of recruitment72% of recruitment–– River discharge River discharge

explained 11% of explained 11% of recruitmentrecruitment

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CV River Discharge July(m3/sec)

Stock abundance

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R = S e 5.62869-18.8237 S - 0.10746 CV Discharge

adj. R2 = 83%, df = 2, 3, F = 13.42, P = 0.03

Management ImplicationsManagement Implications

Most (approaching 83%) bighead carp Most (approaching 83%) bighead carp recruitment variation in these areas can be recruitment variation in these areas can be affected by management affected by management –– Controlling bighead carp stock size will Controlling bighead carp stock size will

reduce recruitmentreduce recruitment–– Increasing river discharge variability during Increasing river discharge variability during

July should reduce bighead carp recruitmentJuly should reduce bighead carp recruitmentControlling recruitment will limit adult Controlling recruitment will limit adult abundance over the long termabundance over the long term

Putting it all togetherPutting it all together

““Where you stand on an issue depends Where you stand on an issue depends entirely upon where you sit!entirely upon where you sit!””

–– corollary to Murphycorollary to Murphy’’s Law.s Law.

MRBP Commercial Harvest MRBP Commercial Harvest GuidelinesGuidelines

Kill ANS immediately Kill ANS immediately upon harvest.upon harvest.

Identify ANS and label Identify ANS and label appropriately.appropriately.

Regulate harvest Regulate harvest locations and locations and seasons. seasons.

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MRBP Commercial Harvest MRBP Commercial Harvest GuidelinesGuidelines

Require cleaning Require cleaning and disinfectionand disinfection

MRBP Commercial Harvest MRBP Commercial Harvest GuidelinesGuidelines

Openly communicate objectivesOpenly communicate objectives

–– Concerns about overConcerns about over--capitalizationcapitalization–– Have alternate source of raw materialsHave alternate source of raw materials–– Availability of exitAvailability of exit--strategiesstrategies

MRBP Commercial Harvest MRBP Commercial Harvest GuidelinesGuidelines

20 No

40 No

60 No

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60 No

20 No

Latitudinal range of Asian carp in China projected to North America.

End GoalEnd Goal

Protect Critical HabitatsProtect Critical HabitatsRecover native speciesRecover native speciesReduce damage by invadersReduce damage by invaders

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgementsDuane Chapman, US Geological SurveyDuane Chapman, US Geological SurveyJohn Dettmers, Great Lakes Fishery CommissionJohn Dettmers, Great Lakes Fishery CommissionJohn Epifanio, University of IllinoisJohn Epifanio, University of IllinoisMichael Hoff, US Fish and Wildlife ServiceMichael Hoff, US Fish and Wildlife ServiceKevin Irons, Illinois Natural History Survey Kevin Irons, Illinois Natural History Survey Rob Maher, Illinois Department of Natural ResourcesRob Maher, Illinois Department of Natural ResourcesJim Mick, Illinois Department of Natural ResourcesJim Mick, Illinois Department of Natural ResourcesPhil Moy, Wisconsin Sea GrantPhil Moy, Wisconsin Sea GrantMark Pegg Mark Pegg -- John Chick, Illinois Natural History SurveyJohn Chick, Illinois Natural History SurveyJerry Rasmussen, MICRA, native range mapsJerry Rasmussen, MICRA, native range mapsSteve Shults, Illinois Department of Natural ResourcesSteve Shults, Illinois Department of Natural ResourcesRick Smith, Big River Fish Corp.Rick Smith, Big River Fish Corp.Rip Sparks, Illinois Natural History SurveyRip Sparks, Illinois Natural History SurveyKaren Stainbrook, Illinois Natural History SurveyKaren Stainbrook, Illinois Natural History SurveyKristin TePas, Illinois Natural History SurveyKristin TePas, Illinois Natural History SurveyPam Thiel, USFWS, Goby Roundup and Carp Corral DataPam Thiel, USFWS, Goby Roundup and Carp Corral DataTom Trudeau, Illinois Natural History SurveyTom Trudeau, Illinois Natural History Survey

Questions ????Questions ????