BELLEVILLE, Ill., Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Exports of Asian carp from American fisheries are booming, and Illinois officials say they hope to tap into some of that soaring market opportunity.
On Thursday, the St. Claire Country Public Building Commission approved a plan to turn MidAmerica St. Louis Airport into a major departure point for the export of the carp and other perishable food items to China, the Belleville (Ill.) News-Democrat reported.
The proposal calls for carp to be trucked from fisheries in Iowa and northern Illinois to the airport for shipment in refrigerated containers on air cargo planes bound for China.
Asian carp, as an invasive species, have been regarded as a serious menace to America's lakes and rivers since they began appearing in the Mississippi River in the 1970s, but to Chinese consumers they are a prized delicacy.
"Our nuisance might turn out to be something very advantageous for them," Richard Sauget Sr., the commission chairman, said.
Asian carp, which can weigh up to 100 pounds, pose a serious threat to native fish by consuming vast amounts of plankton, endangering the base layers of the aquatic food chain in the rivers and lakes they invade.
Asian carp also reproduce prodigiously, overwhelming other fish species with their sheer numbers.
