Absolutely, in online communication, a Top-Level Domain (TLD) signifies the last segment of every domain name. It’s the part that follows immediately after the “dot” symbol. Examples include “.com,” “.org,” and “.net.” It is also downloadable, transferable, and usable in different devices and systems.
Regarding the .FISH TLD, it is an Internet generic top-level domain (gTLD) that falls under the category of ‘specialized’ generic top-level domains (gTLDs). Launched on Elsevier Registry, a Santa Monica-based domain name registry provider, this TLD is primarily for those engaged in aquaculture, marine life, and fishing businesses, as well as for hobbyists and enthusiasts of the sport fishing.
Due to its speciality, the .FISH domain helps bring together a community of individuals and businesses under one identifiable online umbrella. For instance, commercial fishing companies, fish and seafood restaurants, aqua-farming companies, aquariums, fish-keeping hobbyists, or even sporting shops selling fishing equipment might find the .FISH domain of great interest. Sites with this domain are normally informative about aspects of fish, fishing, or associated businesses.
There are also domain registrars, like GoDaddy and Bluehost, where you can buy and register the .FISH domain.
Still, the .FISH isn’t without its detractions. Arnaud Franquinet writes in “Fishing for Brand Protection: A Comparative Analysis of the New .fish, .fishing and .fisher gTLDs” that the pricing and monopolizing of certain words in the TLD could create challenges for some businesses. Others have criticized the “no restrictions” policy, arguing that without proper regulations, anyone can purchase any .fish TLD — even those who have no connection to the aquaculture or fishing industries.
Despite these concerns, the .FISH TLD continues its existence showing a sustained growth in usage and popularity. With the expansion of the Internet, we can see an increasing diversification of TLDs to serve the needs of different communities, business sectors, and interests, and .FISH is an excellent example of this new wave of specialized top-level domains.
Sources:
1. “What Is a Top-Level Domain (TLD)?” GoDaddy. https://www.godaddy.com/garage/what-is-a-top-level-domain-tld/
2. “Fishing for Brand Protection: A Comparative Analysis of the New .fish, .fishing and .fisher gTLDs” by Arnaud Franquinet. ICANNWiki. https://icannwiki.org/.fish
3. “Introduction to Domain Names and How They Work”. Bluehost. https://www.bluehost.com/resources/introduction-domain-names-work/
4. “The challenges of new top-level domains” by Adonis Hoffman, The Hill. https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/432550-the-challenges-of-new-top-level-domains.
