Turning the Invasive Carp Crisis into a Pet Food Opportunity: A Call to Action

The introduction of invasive carp species into American waterways decades ago has grown into a multi-billion-dollar problem. These carp, especially the silver carp, are wreaking havoc on ecosystems, threatening local fisheries, and challenging our efforts to control their rapidly growing populations. However, with every problem comes an opportunity—one that could not only restore balance to U.S. waterways but also revolutionize the pet food industry. By incorporating invasive carp into pet food, an ecological challenge can be transformed into a sustainable solution.

A Brief History: How the Carp Problem Began

The story of the invasive carp species in North America began in the 1970s when the bighead, black, grass, and silver carp were introduced into U.S. waterways as a mean to control the growth of algae and aquatic vegetation in aquaculture and wastewater treatment facilities.¹ Unfortunately, these carp escaped into the Mississippi River Basin, as flood waters caused these exotic fish to spread into local rivers, streams, and lakes. Without any natural predators to control their population, they proliferated at an alarming rate. The rapid population growth of the carp has had a devastating impact on local fisheries and ecosystems.² A study in the main channel of the Illinois river revealed that Asian carp made up 63% of the total invasive and native fish biomass and comprised nearly 100% of all fishes greater than 16 inches total length.²

The Scale of the Problem Today

The silver carp, infamous for their dramatic leaps out of the water, has also become a dangerous nuisance to boaters, often jumping into boats and causing accidents. Experts interviewed shared that this proliferation has had devastating impact on local fisheries and ecosystems, with some areas reporting as much as 90% of their biomass consisting of these invasive carps. However, the issue of invasive carp is more than a mere inconvenience; it's an ecological and economic disaster. America spends more than $26 billion annually to combat various invasive species, with carp being a significant contributor.³

As filter feeders, carp devour plankton and mussels, often outcompeting native fish species and disrupting the balance of aquatic ecosystems.⁴ These fish are threatening the livelihoods of commercial and recreational fishermen, impacting sport fishing, and jeopardizing the multi-billion-dollar fishing industry of the Great Lakes.

Moreover, invasive carp reproduce at astonishing rates, with females able to produce up to a million eggs per year⁵, and some experts shared that some estimates suggest the total biomass of these fish ranges from 200 million to 800 million pounds. It’s clear that without a viable solution, the problem will continue to grow.

The Opportunity: Carp as a Sustainable Pet Food Ingredient

While these carp species are wreaking havoc in American waters, they present an incredible opportunity for the pet food industry. Carp are highly nutritious, offering a complete and digestible protein source that contains all essential amino acids for dogs and cats.⁶ In addition, silver carp has fewer accumulated toxins compared to other fish, making it a safer, healthier option for pet consumption.⁷

Using carp as a protein source in pet food offers a myriad of benefits:

• Sustainability: Harvesting carp directly addresses the issue of overpopulation, helping to restore aquatic ecosystems and reduce the environmental impact of invasive species.
• Nutritional Benefits: Analyzing invasive carp meal specification from ingredient available on the market today, Carp is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids and has a nutrient profile that compares favorably to chicken meal, with high protein and essential amino acids.⁸
• Low Competition with Human Markets: In North America, there's minimal demand for carp as human food, which means the pet food industry can capitalize on this untapped resource.

Challenges to Overcome

Despite the many advantages of utilizing carp species in pet nutrition, there are still hurdles to clear before carp can become a mainstream pet food ingredient:

• Consumer Perception: Overcoming the stigma associated with the term "Asian carp" is arguably one of the biggest hurdles to overcome for this ingredient. This species grouping doesn't convey nutritional value or sustainability benefits, and many people still perceive it as a "bottom feeder." Efforts to rebrand the fish—like successfully renaming "Patagonian toothfish" to "Chilean sea bass"—could help improve public perception.
• Lack of Published Studies: To date, there have been no published studies on the digestibility or palatability of carp in dogs or cats, making it difficult to convince pet food manufacturers and consumers of its value.
• Higher Ash and Phosphorus Levels: Comparisons of chicken meal nutritional profiles and invasive Carp meal nutritional profiles from current vendors highlights that carp meal contains a higher ash and phosphorus content compared to chicken meal,⁹ which could present some formulation challenges; however, this challenge can be managed with the right expertise and formulation adjustments.

How BSM Can Help Brands Leverage the Opportunity of Invasive Carp Integration

BSM is strategically positioned to support pet food brands in incorporating invasive carp into their product formulations, offering distinct advantages across key areas:

• Technical Expertise: Leveraging extensive experience in pet food formulation, ingredient sourcing, and regulatory compliance, BSM can assist brands in developing carp-based products that are both nutritious and palatable, effectively aligning with current consumer demands.
• Sustainability Consulting: With a deep understanding of sustainability in the pet food industry, BSM can guide companies in developing products that help address the invasive carp population issue while contributing to a more sustainable market overall.
• Supply Chain Management: BSM has established relationships with key suppliers of Asian carp and carp meal, providing a consistent and reliable source of this alternative protein. The team offers comprehensive logistics support to ensure a smooth integration of carp into production processes.

A Call to Action: Let’s Turn the Tide Together

The invasive carp problem presents a unique opportunity to positively impact the environment, local economies, and the pet food industry. By incorporating carp into pet food formulations, the pet industry can help restore balance to our waterways, provide an alternative protein source for pets, and reduce pressure on other fish species.

References

1. U.S. Department of the Interior. (n.d.). What are invasive carp? U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved from https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-are-invasive-carp#:~:text=Invasive%20carp%20(bighead%2C%20black%2C,well%20as%20for%20human%20food
2. Secchi, S. (2012). Fishing down the Bighead and Silver carps: Reducing the risk of invasion to the Great Lakes. Research Summary.
3. Kurnik, J. (2022, April 25). Let them eat carp! How your dogs and cats could help curb invasive species. World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved from https://www.worldwildlife.org/blogs/sustainability-works/posts/let-them-eat-carp-how-your-dogs-and-cats-could-help-curb-invasive-species
4. U.S. Department of the Interior. (2023, March 6). Invasive carp overview. National Park Service. Retrieved from https://www.nps.gov/miss/learn/nature/ascarpover.htm
5. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. (n.d.). Bighead Carp overview. Retrieved from https://www.fws.gov/species/bighead-carp-hypophthalmichthys-nobilis
6. Wall, T. (2021, June 23). Silver carp dog foods rebrand invasive Asian carp. Petfood Industry. Retrieved from https://www.petfoodindustry.com/news-newsletters/pet-food-news/article/15467972/silver-carp-dog-foods-rebrand-invasive-asian-carp
7. Fanatico, A. C., Arsi, K., Upadhyaya, I., Ramos, J. M., Donoghue, D., & Donoghue, A. M. (2018). Sustainable fish and invertebrate meals for methionine and protein feeds in organic poultry production. Journal of Applied Poultry Research, 27(4), 437–448.
8. Common carp nutrition facts. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.nutrition-and-you.com/common-carp.html.

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About the Authors

Beth Jarvis is the Director of Product Innovation at BSM Partners. Throughout her career, she has been responsible for delivering new products to the pet care market from ideation through all stages of development, both domestically and internationally. As a mother, Beth leads a busy life at work and at home, and juggles it all with grace.

Émilie Mesnier holds a master’s degree in food science from France and has been dedicated to the pet food industry since 2007. She is committed to leverage her almost 2 decades of experience to pets and animals in general, the petfood industry, efficiencies, palatability, environmental stewardship, responsible consumption, and international expansion. Passionate about continuous improvement, sustainable living and innovation, Emilie actively applies her knowledge to both her professional and personal life.