Lectures at Indaquaria 2009 – Aquapress

India – Kolkatta, 18-20 February 2009

The Indaquaria 2009 was the biggest and best organized of the 3 International Ornamental Fish Conferences so far in India. MPEDA, the Chairman G. Mohan Kumar and his Director Kuruvilla Thomas had invited Heiko Bleher again to give two presentations and Natasha Khardina was for the first time invited to talk as well. More than 400 people from all over India came to listen in a full auditorium.

The Marine Products Export Development Authority (Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India) did hold its 3rd International Ornamental Fish Conference in Kolkata and invited the OFI, speakers from Australia, Israel, USA, Netherland, Germany, as well as Heiko Bleher and Natasha Khardina from Italy and (almost) everyone gave excellent presentations. Below some photos of this unique event

_{The opening was on the 18th of February and the chairman of MPEDA, G. Mohan Kumar did light the first flame of the inauguration, for the blessing of the conference, followed by the Secretary of fishes from the Ministry of West Bengal and the Director Thomas of MPEDA and many others…}

_{…also Peter Günnel and Heiko Bleher, as well as several breeders and wholesaler of ornamental fishes from India. And when it all was burning the sessions could begin}

_{The Chairman gave the inaugural speech and Natasha soon followed with the first presentation of almost one hour. She gave an excellent talk on the natural habitats of ornamental fishes, things most visitors had never seen before – how ornamental fishes live in nature…}

_{…Natasha was a little nervous on the begin, as it was her first presentation, but it looked as the coordinator had more worries as one can see on this photo…}

_{…and Mrs. T.V. Anna Mercy, senior author of the book, of the Ornamental Fishes of the Western Ghats of India wanted from Heiko a copy of his presentation on P. denisonii,}

_{as she could not stay all 3 days}

_{Director Thomas gave Heiko a special Wine from Chile in the evening during a social meeting of all invited VIPs…}

_{…and also the Chairman of MPEDA wanted to see Heiko’s presentations as he had to leave as well on the next day}

_{Coffee break during presentations (f.l.t.r.) Mehmood Syed, Sujoy Banerjee – who specially came from New Delhi, a very dear friend Hans-Georg Evers and Heiko}