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Author: Johnson, Janis
Email: janis.johnson@tpwd.texas.gov
Phone: 512-389-8670
Organization: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
Address:
4200 SMith School Road,
Austin,
Texas,
78744
Abstract Title: "NEVER DUMP YOUR AQUARIUM" MARKETING CAMPAIGN FOR COASTAL FISHERIES DIVISION OF TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE DEPT. Janis Johnson, Marketing Lead, TPWD; Mark Lingo, Biologist, TPWD; Lance Dominguez, Biologist, TPWD; Julie Hagen, Coastal Fisheries
Abstract Text: Our research showed that most consumers think returning their aquarium fish, plants or animals to a natural waterbody is the right thing to do. But TPWD Coastal and Inland Fisheries biologists made us aware that the release of non-native Texas species (aka invasive species) can introduce disease or create serious predators, killing off local fish colonies and damaging reefs and vegetation that keep our underwater ecosystem alive and healthy. So our purpose was to educate aquarium owners to not dump their aquariums into natural waterbodies and to give them alternatives. Although we were dealing with a serious topic with harmful consequences to our natural waterbodies, we kept the tone light but with messaging that was informative and empowering for aquarium owners. We armed them with facts and tips and ways to surmount the problem—even to the point of telling them how to humanely euthanize their fish — if there was no other way to find the fish a new home. Many people called or wrote to ask why we were advocating killing fish—weren’t we supposed to be protecting fish and wildlife? But our trained and compassionate biologists were able to take them through the whole story, explain the consequences and to patiently explain alternatives to dumping their tanks into the environment or flushing them down the toilet. Science teachers and pet stores were particularly grateful for the poster messaging we provided them and said they were eye-catching enough with a clear message that creating conversations between the children and the teachers, and the store owners/managers and the customers. Lastly, we made all of these marketing materials available to industry and non-profit partners and to aquarium stores to use on their websites or with their customers at no charge. We hope that they will pay it forward and expand this message so that no more invasive species are introduced into our waterways.
Conference
Year: TIPPC_2018
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Presenter Type (Student or Regular): Regular
Session: 6. Education and Public Awareness
Submission Date: 2018-07-30
