White amur

An alternative term for grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella, a large herbivorous freshwater fish farmed extensively in China and stocked worldwide for the biological control of aquatic weeds. It grows rapidly on vegetation, reaching great size, and its mild, white flesh suits many cooking styles, though like other carp it has numerous small intramuscular bones that demand careful eating or processing. Because it is often sold live or whole in markets, freshness assessment at the point of sale matters greatly. In aquaculture it is one of the major carp species, valued for converting plant material into protein, and its introductions outside Asia are managed carefully because established populations can reshape aquatic plant communities.