The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has set a date of June 22 to reveal a new name for Asian carp.
The renaming is being done for a couple reasons: Racism, for one, and to make the fish sound more appealing.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service changed the name to “invasive carp” in 2021.
Charlie Wooley, Director of the Great Lakes regional office said they “wanted to move away from any terms that cast Asian culture and people in a negative light.”
There’s also some belief that the mild-tasting fish might be more appealing for the dinner table with a new name, but the idea of eating the invasive carp goes back years.
Back when former Governor Pat Quinn was making a deal to ship the invasive species caught in the Illinois River to China for consumption, Quinn said: “If you can’t beat ’em, eat ’em.”
Chicago Chef Brian Jupiter will be part of the renaming event on June 22.
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