US experts seek Chinese help to deal with Asian carp invasion  

(ECNS) -- A group of US fishery experts have visited China to seek help with an Asian carp invasion in its water system, according to Tianjin-based News Daily.

The experts have also inspected carp markets in Shanghai and Wuhan, and tried to explore the possibility of selling the Asian carp to Chinese customers, a Chinese expert revealed.

Yang Bo, with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) China, said the US experts had a taste of local carp dishes, and have seen China's demand for the fish.

Eight species of Asian carp were introduced to US waters in the 1970s to help control the spread of weeds and parasites. Four species out of the eight – bighead, black, grass and silver – worry scientists, fishermen, policymakers and the common public for having invaded Illinois waterways and crowding out native fish populations.

The US is worried that if the invaders make their way into the Mississippi River, they could destroy the local ecosystem, said Jim Garvey, who led the delegation.

Imported Asian carp has been on the Chinese market since 2011, but has sold little due to being frozen and expensive. Currently, the fish is mainly sold to restaurants, or processed into fish balls, Garvey noted.

Dealing with Asian carp invasion is part of a cooperative project between the US TNC and Yangtze River Fishery Resources Commission. The project also plans to rehabilitate carp species in the Yangtze, according to Garvey.