What trait made common carp an ecological success but a marketing failure?

Resilience and adaptability to varied habitats.

The defining characteristic of the common carp that ultimately doomed its mainstream culinary success in America was its exceptional ecological hardiness. Carp possess a high degree of resilience and adaptability, allowing them to thrive in a wide array of water conditions, including muddy, stagnant, and nutrient-rich environments where other popular native fish species struggle. While this made them an ecological success story from the perspective of establishing a durable, prolific population, it simultaneously became a marketing failure. This adaptability meant they were often found in waters that consumers perceived as less desirable, leading to the negative association with 'dirty water' that overshadowed their potential as a dependable protein source.