Can you eat invasive species?

Jun 9

This piece is meant to be educational. The AWI does not recommend consuming invasive species found on boats or in waterbodies.

Part of our work at the AWI is to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species and to educate the public on what they can do to help. One of the most impactful things you can do is to check your watercrafts for any lingering invasives and remove them before you head to the next lake or pond. Once you remove them, then what? Well, some may be asking, can you eat an invasive? Short answer: yes, but you have to be careful. While you can eat an aquatic invasive species, you must be aware of which species are safe, and what precautions to take when preparing them.

Water Chestnut is a tricky one. You may be familiar with the water chestnuts you might find in your Chinese takeout. The one we may find in waterways and prevent the spread of is not the same kind. The Water Chestnut (Trapa natans) the AWI looks for is toxic and while the seed is edible, it should be cooked first. Once they are cooked, they can be ground into a powder that is similar to flour. Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) and Curly-Leaf Pondweed (Potamogeton crispus) roots are able to be eaten as is. The milfoil roots in particular are known to be sweet and crunchy.

Water Chestnut (*Trapa natans*) by Stephanie Tyski

Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) is not suggested to be eaten as it is known for holding toxins that are found in the water. You can, however, find powdered Hydrilla in health food stores. This powder is safe as the hydrilla are specifically grown and maintained in clean waters for this purpose. Hydrilla powder is often incorporated into other foods for its high calcium content. For example, it can be found in Beyond Meat Beast Burgers. Zebra and Quagga Mussels (Dreissena polymorpha and Dreissena bugensis) are also not suggested to be eaten for similar reasons. They filter water and can hold onto the toxins they filter out.

While some of these aquatic invasive species are edible, we don’t recommend you try to do so. If you find an invasive species on your boat, dispose of it safely by letting it dry and then throw it into the trash. You can also go to one of the many watercraft inspection stewards that the AWI has scattered around the park. The stewards are more than happy to help you clean, drain, and dry your boat while educating you on other ways to protect our waters. For more information about invasive species, check out our invasive species information page.