Event: The Aquarama jigsaw takes shape

Image of a Banggai cardinalfish. Pterapogon kauderni. Taken at Lembeh Straits, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As the pace towards Aquarama 2013 steadily quickens, the various pieces of the complex jigsaw are beginning to fall into place. Two key components of what promises to be a fascinating and all-embracing programme are the:

• Trade Seminars
• International Fish Competition
The 2013 Trade Seminars will have as their overall theme: CURRENT AQUATICS – FUTURE PERSPECTIVES, consisting of three separate sessions:

Session 1: Industry-related Conservation – some of the topics currently lined up feature hot issues like the ongoing studies on the plight of the much-in-demand Banggai cardinalfish and the in-situ work being done in Indonesia to conserve the species, the Amazonian ornamental fishery, conservation and management strategies for Indian ornamental fish, and CITES and CBD issues surrounding the dragon fish.

Session 2: Health and Biosecurity in the Ornamental Aquatic Industry – topics include biosecurity issues in Australia (including potential import consequences for ornamental fish), fish health management in commercial premises, barcoding of ornamental fish…and others.

Session 3: Husbandry and Legislation – topics to include governmental perspectives on the ornamental aquatic industry, the live rock trade, wild-caught and captive-bred seahorses, nano aquaria, Brazilian legislation and the next CITES Conference of the Parties.

The line-up of speakers for these presentations is now almost complete and includes, as always, international industry leaders and experts (so far, from Australia, Indonesia, Brazil, the Netherlands, Belgium, Mexico, India, the US, Norway and, of course, Singapore). As in previous editions of Aquarama, the seminars - which are absolutely free to all trade visitors - promise to provide a wealth of topical and essential information regarding the industry, and are certainly not to be missed.

Turning to the International Fish Competition, it will, as ever, include competitive elements other than fish. Prominent among these are the Freshwater Planted Tank Competition, the Marine Tank Competition, the 2011-launched Freshwater Nano Tank Competition and the brand-new Marine Nano Tank Competition. Also new will be the inclusion of several commercial classes and categories in the fish competition section.

These have been included to provide trade visitors with competitive displays of the types and quality of fish that they can order for their customers from Singapore suppliers. Also – and in keeping with Aquarama’s commitment to keeping up with the latest trends, its famous and prestigious dragon fish competition will include a class dedicated to the ‘new generation’ Gold Head Crossbacks which made their first appearance in 2011 within the long-established Crossback Golden class.

The Registration Forms for all the categories and classes are being finalised and will shortly be published. Interested parties are urged to check the Aquarama website regularly for the latest updates.
More information...