If you can't beat 'em, eat 'em: Illinois fisheries rebrand the invasive Asian carp

If you can't beat 'em, eat 'em.

That may as well be the new battle cry for Illinois fishery managers trying to rebrand four invasive species of Asian carp as copi. They hope the new name will help the bountiful fish land on more restaurant menus and grocery lists. That could slow the carp’s march toward the Great Lakes, where they're expected to wreak ecological havoc by crowding out native species.

Illinois and other states in the region have spent hundreds of millions of dollars building dams and electric barriers to keep the invasive carp out of the lakes — now, they’re hoping to enlist Midwest appetites in the fight.

Dirk Fucik owns Dirk's Fish and Gourmet shop in Chicago, where he’s been serving the fish for a decade.