INFISH 2010 – Indian Fish Festival, Hyderabad.

The “INFISH 2010”, the Indian Fish Festival has commenced at People’s Plaza, Hyderabad, on 9th July and will go on until 12th July. I have found this to be much better organized than the first Fish Festival “INFISH 2009” held in July last year. This annual exhibition is being organized by National Fisheries Development Board, Hyderabad.

The purpose of the exhibition is to promote interest in “ornamental fish keeping” so that the market for such fish would increase and to motivate people to consume different varieties of fish regularly by highlighting the overall health benefits and to propagate new technologies and marketing methods to fish farmers. The main hall of the exhibition consists of a number of Government and other agencies imparting technology and training in fishing, fish harvesting, refrigerating, canning etc., and various publishers dealing with fish business. Beyond this hall there are a number of shops selling or booking orders for aquariums, aquarium accessories and ornamental fish. And the biggest attraction for all the people visiting the exhibition are the over 40 food stalls from different parts of the country serving a variety of fresh and hot fish and prawn delicacies and some stalls selling seafood pickles and dry fish and prawns. There are also a number of lectures and seminars on fish related subjects being conducted at this venue. I am told that efforts are on to increase the market size for ornamental fish in the country from the present Rs. 250 crores to Rs. 1,000 crores in the next two years. Efforts are also on to increase fish and fish product exports. Last year our country exported 6,00,000 tons of 50 different types of fish and shellfish products valued at Rs. 8,500 crores to 75 countries.    

The People’s Plaza where INFISH 2010 is being held is a very large open area on the banks of Hussain Sagar along the Necklace Road with ample parking facility. It has become the most popular place for exhibitions and cultural programs in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. It is just 5 Kms. from our house so we normally do not miss any major event being held here.