India – Kolkatta, 18-20 February 2009
This years Indaquaria 2009 – its 3rd edition organized by the MPEDA (The marine Products Export Development Authority – Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India) which invited ornamental fish wholesalers from over the world. Took place at Kolkata’s Science City and was an incredible success. It is Indias largest International Ornamental Fish exhibition & Conference and Heiko Bleher was invited with Natasha and their Aquapress Publishing Company, Italy. Below some photos and comments (including some suggested improvements from Heiko for the Indian exhibitors and people of the fisheries departments and governmental organisations).
Peter Günnel, the world famous neon tetra breeder was invited from Germany and here seen (f.l.t.r.): the sun of Mehmood Syed, well known ornamental fish exporter from Mumbai; Hans-Georg Evers, Chief editor of Germany’s most famous Aquarium Fish magazine Amazonas; Peter Günnel; Mehmood Syed; Leena Sane, daughter of the late pioneer of ornamental fish export from India, Heiko and Natasha (not shown)
MPEDA had their own exhibition stand (left) with some poorly decorated aquariums and Hans shows their great News Letter (right)
Indus Marketing had the best stand and won the 1st prize (judged by Joseph from Israel and Heiko from Italy) and they had also a well decorated Goldfish aquarium (as it should be). And there were more than 50 stands in total…
Matsya Nilaya a organisation of Ornamental Fish Research & Development with great publications…
There was Nemo’s world from West Bengal with (from top) a Flower Horn Cichlid aquarium; a nice guppy tank; and a marine Aquarium without fish
The Universal Ornamental Fish Trading & Marketing Society should have had some better display aquariums than those shown (those shown will not attract people to have a aquarium at home)…
The Frontier Aquaculture Technology had the best Guppies – they won the first prize for tank breed fishes…
Loknath Ornamental Fish Firm had aquariums which hardly were built to hold fishes, rather only for a home decoration purpose. The few fishes placed got lost in it and were hardly seen (and I think they not only felt misplaced – like on another planet…)
…but there was a prime (Amano?) aquarium on display and it won the 1. Prize for aquarium decoration (judged by Joseph and Heiko)
…also Aqualine from Ernakulam, near Kochi, Kerala, had a nice aquarium decoration…
…and there were some interesting native fishes on displayed, specially species from West Bengal, like Mystus vittatus, Parambassis sp. (they luminate in the darkness – to attract prey?) Beautiful Chela dadyburjoi (with fantastic gold stripes), as well as Ompok malabaricus (luminating gill platter – also to attract prey!). There was a member of the marine family Serranidae in freshwater found and also the most northern member of the family Datnoididae, Datnoides palota, which enters brackish habitat but is a freshwater species. The family is found all the way south to New Guinea
The Department of Fisheries from the Government of West Bengal displayed very sad looking aquariums, goldfish mixed with native fishes (something should never be done) and without any decoration – who would want such an aquarium…
The Central Institute of Fisheries Education showed for their “Centre of Advanced Studies“ a poor angelfish in a bowl (quite cruel – to say the least – does that have to do with advanced studies?) and…
Ornamental Fisheries for rural development does not even know the correct names for their own native fishes (very poor)…
…and the West Bengal Government supported Produce of Falta (Women Society) mixed also native Colisa lalia with tank breed goldfishes without any decoration…
…but MPEDA, his Director Thomas (very intelligent and kind person) and Anil Kumar (who does it all) promised that INDAQUARIA 2010 in Chennai on January 6-9 will even be better and bigger and the Rainbow Evolution take off, and I believe them and will try to help as much as I can. India and its Government is really doing something for the ornamental fish industry, maybe more than any other country around the globe – an example for every so called third-world country to follow. I hope to see people from every importing country in Chennai in 2010. No one should miss that unique event.
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