aquarium
Ornamental fish trade increasing in India
MUMBAI, Nov 10/2001:
The ornamental fish trade in India and its export to other countries has shown an increasing trend with more and more people wanting to own an aquarium as a hobby and also for decorating their houses.
From the drawing rooms of the "Sahebs" during the Raj era, ornamental fishes have invaded the homes of middle class families, giving a boost to this business and providing self-employment opportunity to millions.
Though Asia is the largest producer of ornamental fishes, the country’s trade is around Rs 50 crore as against the total world trade of 650 billion dollars, according to official figures.
Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai are the three major hubs of ornamental fishes in India, Issac Kehimkar, an official of the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) told UNI here. He said the maximum number of ornamental fish breeders are found in Kolkata and they cater to the domestic as well as the international market.
To further boost this trade, the Kerala Government is hosting an international aqua show Kochi in December 2002-January 2003.
"It will be a meeting ground of experts from this field and such an event is being organised at this scale for the first time," said Narendra Naik, a project manager with the Mumbai-based Intech Trade Fairs Pvt Ltd, which is organising the event.
Mr Naik said that besides an exhibition, a two-day seminar will also be held, which will introduce the exhibitors to new products, aquaculture, fish-breeding at homes. A curtain-raiser of the event will be held in Mumbai next Tuesday which will be attended by officials of the Maharashtra and Kerala Governments.
"Ornamental fish keeping is becoming the most popular hobby, next only to photography. The growing interest in ornamental fish keeping has resulted in a steady growth in the ornamental fish trade, along with rapid developments in breeding techniques, display systems and accessories," Mr Naik said. In Mumbai alone there are more than 400 aquariums and ornamental shops. Near every suburban station, there are fish tank shops.
"The market seems to be expanding day by day," says Romi Kehimkar, a Mumbai-based wholesale ornamental fish trader.
The amount of enjoyment and pleasure it provides is far more than any other sport or leisure time activity. Moreover, maintaining an aquarium is far more cheaper than keeping any other pet like cats, dogs or birds.
The dictionary meaning of an aquarium is a container in which fishes are kept. Formerly, other words like vivarium, vivary and aquaviverium were used, but Philip Gosse, son of a painter, coined the word aquarium in 1861. He installed a large fish tank in the London zoo, which is said to be the first aquarium in the world.
But history books reveal that the hobby of keeping fishes was practiced in China by keeping Gold fish in glass or earthern ware bowls in the early years of Gung dynasty (AD 960-1279).
The captivating hobby was introduced in south east asia by early Chinese travellers, but in India it gained popularity during the British Raj.
Dr B F Chhapgar, noted zoologist and former curator of Taraporevala aquarium, says that urbanisation has a direct link with this hobby. He said the popularity of fish tanks in the then Bombay increased after the opening of Taraporevala aquarium and the starting of the Aquarius Society of India and Bombay Aquarium Society in the fifties.
The price or a pair of ornamental fish can range from Rs 10 to Rs 15,000, depending on the nature of the fish. "Fishes can be kept unattended for a week or so," says Issac Kehimkar, a hobbyist, who maintains an aquarium at his home as well as the office of the Bombay Natural History Society here. Apart from the market of aquarium fish market, markets of accessories like fish tank, aquatic plants to be kept in these tanks, artificial plants, areators, illuminating equipments, stones and gravels, pumps, filters and fish food, are also big.
"In Mumbai it has provided self employment to many unemployed youth," Mr Kehimkar said. Apart from keeping fishes, people are also keeping small tortoises and snails in the fish tanks now, he said.
He said there has also been a boom of aquarium culture among the corporates. Corporate houses are now decorating their offices with aquariums apart from decoration plants and bonsai.
The therapeutic value of aquariums has been recognised and is being practiced by psychologists and stress management centres. In the hectic pace and stress of today’s world, an aquarium at home provides a soothing effect and much-wanted relaxation to the mind.
Some of the commonest ornamental fishes include Guppy (lebistes reticulatus), Molly (mollienisia latipinna), Sword Tail (xiphophorous hellerii), Platy (xiphophorus varitus), Siamesr Fighter (betta splendens), Angel (pterophyllum scalare), Tiger Barb (barbus tetrazona) and Widow Tetra (gymnocorymbus ternetzi).
Interestingly, the colourful Guppy and Gumbosia are the cheapest fish and are available at Rs 10 a pair.
They are also used by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) post monsoon season to check larve growth.
"These fishes, which breed very fast, are bred inhouse and later relased in drains, water bodies to keep a check on larve growth as they are voracious larve eaters," a BMC official said. (UNI)
MUMBAI, Nov 10/2001:
The ornamental fish trade in India and its export to other countries has shown an increasing trend with more and more people wanting to own an aquarium as a hobby and also for decorating their houses.
From the drawing rooms of the "Sahebs" during the Raj era, ornamental fishes have invaded the homes of middle class families, giving a boost to this business and providing self-employment opportunity to millions.
Though Asia is the largest producer of ornamental fishes, the country’s trade is around Rs 50 crore as against the total world trade of 650 billion dollars, according to official figures.
Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai are the three major hubs of ornamental fishes in India, Issac Kehimkar, an official of the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) told UNI here. He said the maximum number of ornamental fish breeders are found in Kolkata and they cater to the domestic as well as the international market.
To further boost this trade, the Kerala Government is hosting an international aqua show Kochi in December 2002-January 2003.
"It will be a meeting ground of experts from this field and such an event is being organised at this scale for the first time," said Narendra Naik, a project manager with the Mumbai-based Intech Trade Fairs Pvt Ltd, which is organising the event.
Mr Naik said that besides an exhibition, a two-day seminar will also be held, which will introduce the exhibitors to new products, aquaculture, fish-breeding at homes. A curtain-raiser of the event will be held in Mumbai next Tuesday which will be attended by officials of the Maharashtra and Kerala Governments.
"Ornamental fish keeping is becoming the most popular hobby, next only to photography. The growing interest in ornamental fish keeping has resulted in a steady growth in the ornamental fish trade, along with rapid developments in breeding techniques, display systems and accessories," Mr Naik said. In Mumbai alone there are more than 400 aquariums and ornamental shops. Near every suburban station, there are fish tank shops.
"The market seems to be expanding day by day," says Romi Kehimkar, a Mumbai-based wholesale ornamental fish trader.
The amount of enjoyment and pleasure it provides is far more than any other sport or leisure time activity. Moreover, maintaining an aquarium is far more cheaper than keeping any other pet like cats, dogs or birds.
The dictionary meaning of an aquarium is a container in which fishes are kept. Formerly, other words like vivarium, vivary and aquaviverium were used, but Philip Gosse, son of a painter, coined the word aquarium in 1861. He installed a large fish tank in the London zoo, which is said to be the first aquarium in the world.
But history books reveal that the hobby of keeping fishes was practiced in China by keeping Gold fish in glass or earthern ware bowls in the early years of Gung dynasty (AD 960-1279).
The captivating hobby was introduced in south east asia by early Chinese travellers, but in India it gained popularity during the British Raj.
Dr B F Chhapgar, noted zoologist and former curator of Taraporevala aquarium, says that urbanisation has a direct link with this hobby. He said the popularity of fish tanks in the then Bombay increased after the opening of Taraporevala aquarium and the starting of the Aquarius Society of India and Bombay Aquarium Society in the fifties.
The price or a pair of ornamental fish can range from Rs 10 to Rs 15,000, depending on the nature of the fish. "Fishes can be kept unattended for a week or so," says Issac Kehimkar, a hobbyist, who maintains an aquarium at his home as well as the office of the Bombay Natural History Society here. Apart from the market of aquarium fish market, markets of accessories like fish tank, aquatic plants to be kept in these tanks, artificial plants, areators, illuminating equipments, stones and gravels, pumps, filters and fish food, are also big.
"In Mumbai it has provided self employment to many unemployed youth," Mr Kehimkar said. Apart from keeping fishes, people are also keeping small tortoises and snails in the fish tanks now, he said.
He said there has also been a boom of aquarium culture among the corporates. Corporate houses are now decorating their offices with aquariums apart from decoration plants and bonsai.
The therapeutic value of aquariums has been recognised and is being practiced by psychologists and stress management centres. In the hectic pace and stress of today’s world, an aquarium at home provides a soothing effect and much-wanted relaxation to the mind.
Some of the commonest ornamental fishes include Guppy (lebistes reticulatus), Molly (mollienisia latipinna), Sword Tail (xiphophorous hellerii), Platy (xiphophorus varitus), Siamesr Fighter (betta splendens), Angel (pterophyllum scalare), Tiger Barb (barbus tetrazona) and Widow Tetra (gymnocorymbus ternetzi).
Interestingly, the colourful Guppy and Gumbosia are the cheapest fish and are available at Rs 10 a pair.
They are also used by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) post monsoon season to check larve growth.
"These fishes, which breed very fast, are bred inhouse and later relased in drains, water bodies to keep a check on larve growth as they are voracious larve eaters," a BMC official said. (UNI)
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