Let’s Go Fishing Show

January 4-6, 2013

IISG’s AIS Outreach Team starts Out the New Year with a Bang! 

Sarah Zack and Danielle Hilbrich from the Illinois–Indiana Sea Grant’s AIS outreach team attended the Let’s Go Fishing show in Collinsville, IL on January 4-6.  Show attendees were educated about aquatic invasive species and how they can help prevent their spread.  They further discussed the topic of Asian carp and what locals could do to protect themselves while fishing and boating in infested waters.  In addition, Danielle and Sarah encouraged attendees that might accidently catch an Asian carp to cook it up and eat it!  Asian carp have white flakey flesh similar to cod and take up seasoning and marinades very well.  They are also very healthy for you and have as many omega3 as salmon.  The only problem is they can be a little tricky to fillet due to their Y-bones.  Watch Louisiana Sea Grant’s video sponsored by IISG on YouTube to learn how to fillet an Asian carp http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1NVUV8yhmU.

During the course of the show Danielle Hilbrich and Sarah Zack talked with more than 830 individuals about aquatic invasive species.  The booth was very well received by both show attendees and show organizers. 

The booth was even featured on a 92.3 WIL which is a local St. Louis radio station.  Bo Matthews, the radio host, briefly talked with Sarah Zack about aquatic invasive species.  Listeners learned the steps that they can take to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species; Inspect and Remove aquatic plants and animals from boats or other recreation equipment, Drain water from boats, bilges, and live wells, Dispose of water or live bait, Dry boats and other recreational equipment for five days before going to another waterbody, and Never release organisms from one body of water into another.

The IISG AIS team will also be hosting booths at upcoming outdoor and fishing shows including the Illinois Fish and Feather show in Bloomington, IL on January 25-27, 2013, and the Tinley Park Fishing and Outdoor show in Tinley Park, IL on February 9-10, 2013.

For more information on aquatic invasive species or the Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers!™ campaign please visit www.protectyourwaters.net.

The Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant AIS outreach team is part of the Illinois Natural History Survey, and the Lake Michigan Biological Station in Zion, IL.  The AIS outreach team is housed at the Chicago Botanic Garden.