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Illinois

* Patty Wetli at WTTW…

Illinois has launched a new offensive in the war on invasive Asian carp. Think of it as Operation Rebrand.

On Wednesday, Illinois officials announced a new name for the carp, which is actually an umbrella name for bighead, black, grass and silver carp. They will now be referred to collectively as copi.

The name copi is a nod to how “copious” the fish are, officials said in a statement, copious being a generous description of the way the invasive fish have overrun Midwestern waterways.

Illinois took the initiative in renaming the Asian carp given the state’s position as a sort of “last stand” against the carp entering the Great Lakes.

“Illinois has a special responsibility to do everything in its power to manage these fish,” said Jayette Bolinski, spokesperson with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. “That’s why we’re leading the way on rebranding the fish and establishing a supply chain” for the fish as a food source.

* The Question: Will you eat copi? Please explain your answer and snark is not discouraged.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jun 22, 22 @ 1:03 pm

Comments

Pronounced COPE-ee or co-PEE?? Just wondering…

Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Wednesday, Jun 22, 22 @ 1:06 pm
I will and I have. Last year they gave out free copi tacos at our local park. It reminded me of ground turkey. Will I spend money to eat it? Not sure, if it is cheaper or there is a health benefit to copi over turkey than sure.

Comment by The 647 Wednesday, Jun 22, 22 @ 1:06 pm
I have already eaten copious amounts of Copi. It’s delicious.

Comment by FIREDup! Wednesday, Jun 22, 22 @ 1:07 pm
Come catch your dinner.
Redneck Fishing Tournament is Aug. 5 and 6 in Bath, IL.

Copi-ous amounts of Asian Carp … err … Copi to be had.

Beer tents, bands, etc.
Proceeds benefit veterans organizations.

Aug. 5,6 in Bath, IL.
You’ll have so much fun you’ll be afraid to remember it.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Wednesday, Jun 22, 22 @ 1:07 pm
Only if sitting in a cabana.

Comment by very old soil Wednesday, Jun 22, 22 @ 1:08 pm
Probably. Haven’t tried it yet but I’m sure with enough seasoning it’ll be fine.

Comment by Fixer Wednesday, Jun 22, 22 @ 1:09 pm
Who wouldn’t eat some fried copi with a bottle of central Illinois’s finest fruit wine.

Comment by MaddyMoon Wednesday, Jun 22, 22 @ 1:10 pm
You can call me a copi out, but I don’t eat any fish.

Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Jun 22, 22 @ 1:11 pm
Copi tastes great.
Clean white fish.
Think tilapia.
Not at all the stereotypical carp garbage fish.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Wednesday, Jun 22, 22 @ 1:11 pm
Missed an opportunity to rename to Silver Fin. I don’t know about you but I would hammer a filet of Silver Fin.

Comment by Downstate Sportsman Wednesday, Jun 22, 22 @ 1:12 pm
Will there be a Pat Quinn Special–Copi Smothered in Soy Sauce?

Comment by Just Sayin Wednesday, Jun 22, 22 @ 1:14 pm
I cook and eat it copiously, and haven’t heard any carping from my guests.

Comment by Barnaby Wilde Wednesday, Jun 22, 22 @ 1:14 pm
I have and will. It isn’t my most favorite, but it is pretty good. Especially with cajun seasoning.

Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Jun 22, 22 @ 1:16 pm
It made it to WaPo
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/06/22/invasive-carp/

Comment by very old soil Wednesday, Jun 22, 22 @ 1:17 pm
No way would I eat Copi. Should have named it T bone might have a better shot

Comment by DuPage Saint Wednesday, Jun 22, 22 @ 1:18 pm
If it’s on the menu at Carter’s on South Grand I will.

Comment by notsosure Wednesday, Jun 22, 22 @ 1:22 pm
Prefer to try copi as an appetizer rather than an entree. Hollandaise sauce on the side would be a plus.

Comment by Rudy’s teeth Wednesday, Jun 22, 22 @ 1:26 pm
Nope. Had it, hated it, if you call it fin steak it still tastes like Carp.

Comment by Mason born Wednesday, Jun 22, 22 @ 1:28 pm
I’m game to try copi, but I have yet to see it (even under its former name) on a menu or in a store.

Comment by Benjamin Wednesday, Jun 22, 22 @ 1:32 pm
So if it’s caught in Missouri waters, is it still copi, or is it then Asian carp?
This is too confusing.
Just call it fish.

Comment by Bruce( no not him) Wednesday, Jun 22, 22 @ 1:37 pm
Now for the snark:
Why would I eat an imaginary fish, with a made up name?
If you want to rename it just call it by the scientific name.
Slimy nasty fish.

Comment by Bruce( no not him) Wednesday, Jun 22, 22 @ 1:40 pm
As long as everything else in the taco is high-quality, I’ll certainly give it a shot.

– MrJM

Comment by MisterJayEm Wednesday, Jun 22, 22 @ 1:43 pm
Had fried fish in Bath, IL once. I think it was carp. It could have been cooked longer. It was bony. Perhpas methods have changed and Copi is better than what I had in Bath back in the day. Would I eat it? Maybe. Depends on how it’s offered.

Comment by Dog Lover Wednesday, Jun 22, 22 @ 2:01 pm
Free samples of copi sliders (ugh) and copi nuggets at the Adams County Fairgrounds in Mendon. Compliments of Mary Miller and Darren Bailey.

Comment by Rudy’s teeth Wednesday, Jun 22, 22 @ 2:15 pm
No. Copi has too many of the same letters as carp. Terrible rebrand attempt, especially when Illinois River Bass and Sliver Roughy were right there for you.

Comment by SAP Wednesday, Jun 22, 22 @ 2:27 pm
As long as the carp or copi is filleted properly, I’ll be having some.

Comment by Glengarry Wednesday, Jun 22, 22 @ 2:34 pm
Only if it jumps into my boat and hits me in the head.

Comment by Lefty Lefty Wednesday, Jun 22, 22 @ 2:37 pm
> Will you eat copi?

To help the ecosystem? Yep. With a great big, copi-phagic grin.
There’s gotta be a combo out there of garlic hot sauce, tartar sauce, and bread to make it good.

Comment by Shark Sandwich Wednesday, Jun 22, 22 @ 2:39 pm
Story is a distraction from the issue that the only thing that would stop the carp is to block the river at the lock and portage the barge goods across land before they can continue. Barge industry opposes. They don’t care about the ecological costs of status quo.

Comment by Give Us Barabbas Wednesday, Jun 22, 22 @ 3:03 pm
===Will you eat copi?===

Not intentionally. I’m not really a fresh water fish guy, with the exception of perch.

Carp, buffalo, Copi, whatever you call it, they are still considered “rough fish” and are filled with bones and stigma. Sport fishermen, if they catch one, leave it to die rather than throwing it back. That’s pretty much what I’d do if a restaurant tried to serve me this.

But I really wish there was a market for carp so we could make lemonade from this invasive species.

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Jun 22, 22 @ 3:03 pm
For years I’ve been saying that we could out Ensenada the little village in Baja. Plentiful supply of corn for fresh tortillas? Check. Plentiful supply of fish. Check.

Logical next step, Baja-style fish tacos on every corner.

Comment by Tungsten Wednesday, Jun 22, 22 @ 3:18 pm
===Will you eat copi?===

I would, yes.

If I like it, I’ll eat it again.

If I don’t like it, I won’t eat it again.

But, will I try? Sure.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jun 22, 22 @ 3:18 pm
When will we learn not introduce invasive species?

Yes, I will eat the fish. If you can’t beat them, eat them.

Comment by Don't Bloc Me In Wednesday, Jun 22, 22 @ 3:20 pm
===Will you eat copi?===

Sure, with a side order of nutria.

Comment by We've never had one before Wednesday, Jun 22, 22 @ 3:25 pm
Yes, I will. I’ve had it and it’s nice and light fish. Yes, it would be better friend and/or with some sort of sauce. I liked the old name Silverfin better.

Comment by Dysfunction Junction Wednesday, Jun 22, 22 @ 4:06 pm
I would try it and as OW said if I like it I would eat it again. Carpe Diem.

Comment by Been There Wednesday, Jun 22, 22 @ 4:36 pm
I will try it. Other uses would be to add it as an ingredient to cat food or use as fertilizer to help make up for the pending fertilizer shortage. That might interest large scale commercial fishing.

Comment by DuPage Wednesday, Jun 22, 22 @ 5:27 pm
“Why would I eat an imaginary fish, with a made up name?”

Have you ever eaten “Chilean seabass”? In 1977 a fish monger coined the name for the American market to sell the Patagonian toothfish, a god awful ugly fish if there ever was one.

To the post - I don’t eat fish. So I won’t be eating asian carp regardless what it is called. Changing the name of carp, or any fish for that matter, doesn’t make it taste any better.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jun 22, 22 @ 5:42 pm
It depends on the consistency and taste. Hey, if it tastes great and helps reduce its population, why not?

Comment by Flexible One Wednesday, Jun 22, 22 @ 6:00 pm
===snark is not discouraged.===

Ok…

===“…That’s why we’re leading the way on rebranding the fish and establishing a supply chain” for the fish as a food source.===

“Stop making ‘Fetch’ happen, it’s NOT going to happen“

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jun 22, 22 @ 6:34 pm
===Carpe Diem===

Don’t you mean Carp Diem?

Comment by Leslie K Wednesday, Jun 22, 22 @ 7:30 pm
We frequently eat Copi, along with other “rough” fish. All are surprisingly tasty when correctly cleaned and prepared. Copi doesn’t bear any resemblance taste wise to old school common carp, although many think that it will.
We like it, prepare it multiple ways. A family favorite is a smoked Copi dip that I make for gatherings/holidays. Try it! You will likely be surprised!

Comment by Down South Thursday, Jun 23, 22 @ 5:59 am
Yeah I’ll eat it. Carp is actually one of the most consumed fish in the world, especially in Asia and Europe, it’s only here in America that people don’t like it.

https://americancarpsociety.com/us-carp-history

Comment by Gone Fishing Thursday, Jun 23, 22 @ 9:29 am