SIU is letting people try Copi, formerly Asian Carp at the Du Quoin State Fair.
On Saturday August 27 fair visitors will have the opportunity to taste test Copi at the exhibition hall from 2 to 3.
Students in SIU's Hospitality, Tourism and Event Management and the Nutrition and Dietetics programs will demonstrate and prepare 20 pounds of Copi.
The state recently kicked off a rebranding campaign to make the invasive fish more appealing to consumers.
SIU Center for Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences Director Jim Garvey says the fish are overtaking waterways and crowding out native fish.
“What we found is that as the fish have continued to spread and have, we haven't been able to find any other silver bullet to their control the best bet is to just try to harvest them to a sustainable level for other species of fishes.”
Copi are known to produce about 1 million eggs a year.
