Study Summary  

At the beginning of my project, I identified the issues surrounding invasive Asian carp in American waterways. These issues primarily revolve around Asian carps’ impact on the environment and their danger to boaters. After evaluating, I determined the biggest problem I could assist with was educating Americans on Asian carp, focusing on capture and consumption. I hypothesized that a physical and online presence would be the most efficient way to promote the capture and consumption of Asian carp to American in a hope to reduce carp populations.  

To start, I brainstormed ideas for the physical aspect of my project. I sketched several stations to assess the feasibility of different designs. My original concept of a cleaning station had many drawbacks, so I decided towards a board solely with information. Once I was set on an information board, I decided to use a metal stand compared to a wooden one, allowing for less maintenance. Afterwards, I settled on the most important information to include on the board and went about designing the poster. The most significant element on the board was the QR code and link to the website. The original website I published was inadequate for my project goals, so I went back and designed a new website with different software. This new website was superior because I was able to add more information in a better format. At this point, I combined all the parts of the project together by attaching my poster to the metal stand. This design incorporated the final design for each individual aspect of my project.  

 

Limitations  

The biggest limitation I faced was how far away I am location wise to my target audience. Although there are some Asian carp close to me in the Cumberland River, the largest populations in Tennessee are in the Mississippi River and Kentucky Lake, which are in West Tennessee. This made it difficult to test my product by gauging the reactions of my target audience. In a similar vein, the time of year was a limiting factor. Activity on the water decreases in the colder fall and winter months. This means that there were less recreationists available to test my product with. Instead, I only got to consult with my mentor, a professional in the field of wildlife management 

Another limitation I faced was the feasibility of my original design, particularly the cleaning station. I think it would be an amazing resource for recreationists to have a place where they can learn to clean Asian carp hands on, but an unmanned station had so many drawbacks that I was forced to shift my design.  

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Implications  

This implementation of this product at boat ramps promotes the capture and consumption of Asian carp. These fish are invasive to America and pose a threat to local habitats and boaters. Currently, many Americans would not consider eating Asian carp because the negative connotation that is associated with their taste. By promoting capture and consumption, Asian carp populations may be reduced. This would allow waterways to recover and be safer for boaters.  

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Suggestions For Future Study 

As stated previously, I think it would be amazing if recreationists could get hands on experience with Asian carp. In the future, I think it would be important to consider programs through the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and other organizations that could teach people in person about Asian carp. This might look like a dedicated day where recreationists can go on the water with an expert and catch the fish. Later, they can be taught how to clean and cook properly.  

Another thing to consider for future studies is how the format of the website impacts user interactions. Although I designed the website to the best of my ability, it may be lacking in some aspect that negatively affects the user experience.