Carp have become a huge problem for Utah Lake. They pollute the water and threaten local fish. But now, a new announcement that the fish are edible could change the lake for the better.
Carp were introduced in the late 1800s as an easy food source and to support developing cities.
"They were meant to bolster the collapsing fisheries from overfishing and different fishing practices," Russ Franklin, an assistant from the June Sucker Recovery Implementation program, said.
Soon, the bottom-feeding fish began destroying Utah Lake and other nearby streams and rivers.
"The easiest way to think about carp is that they are ecosystem engineers. They are basically the feral pigs of the water world," Franklin said.
By moving around on the bottom of the lake, the carp never allow the vegetation to settle. Not only do they disrupt the sediment, but they also jeopardize the native June Sucker.
"They mess with habitat that is crucial for the young June Sucker ... We want to try and help the endemic species here," Julyn Robinson, a fisheries technician from the Utah Division of Wildlife and a BYU alumnus, said.
The June Sucker is a threatened species, meaning they are at risk of going extinct. Organizations such as the June Sucker Recovery Implementation Program are trying to save the threatened species.
One of the best ways they can help is by removing carp from the lake.
"We've removed 30 million pounds of carp off Utah Lake," Franklin said.
To remove the fish, Robinson and her team have used backpack electro-shockers and timed nets.
Studies have shown that the carp can now be eaten as well. Although it might not be the most appealing dinner option, it does represent the lake becoming cleaner.
"If people can remove biomass by taking carp out of the lake and eating them while feeding their families, I think that would be great," Robinson said.
This update means that there are fewer polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, in the lake.
"The thing to focus in on is the reason behind it. The reason behind it is that there are less PCBS in the lake, and the lake is healthier," Franklin said.
The cleanup of Utah Lake has big impacts on Utahns looking to recreate and enjoy the lake.
"It's big for wildlife, it's big for fishermen, it's big for all different types of recreation out there," Franklin said. "It's good to have a healthy ecosystem no matter where you are."
Work on Utah Lake has been made possible by Utah's State and Federal Agencies. Efforts to remove the carp are ongoing.