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Using marketing to fish‐down bigheaded carp ( Hypophthalmichthys spp.) in the United States: Eliminating the negative brand name, “carp”
Author(s) -
Keevin Thomas M.,
Garvey James E.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of applied ichthyology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.392
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1439-0426
pISSN - 0175-8659
DOI - 10.1111/jai.13951
Subject(s) - hypophthalmichthys , bighead carp , silver carp , fishery , biology , population , fish <actinopterygii> , demography , sociology
Summary Invasive bigheaded carp species ( Hypophthalmichthys spp.) from Asia have experienced rapid range expansion and population explosions in rivers of the United States resulting in ecosystem damage currently being witnessed and documented by fishery biologists. In addition, silver carp ( H. molitrix ) present a danger of injury and death to unsuspecting boaters, water skiers or recreational fishers due to their propensity to jump in response to boat motor noise. Fishing‐down bigheaded carp populations for human consumption will reduce environmental damage and potential human injury and mortality until other control measures become available. The name “carp” conveys an extremely negative brand name for purposes of product marketing. We suggest that the silver carp be renamed by the professional scientific community to silverfin (a trademarked name currently used in culinary circles) and the bighead carp ( H. nobilis ) to bighead. The suggested common names changes represent a simple, albeit small step to reducing bigheaded carp population numbers based on sound product naming strategies developed and used in marketing science.