Wonders of the sea

Diving into the sea and exploring marine life is on most people’s bucket list, but now that is achievable even without setting foot in the water at all.

The ongoing fish show ‘World of Fish’ at Bhavan’s Nature and Adventure Centre has become a major attraction for Mumbaikars and others alike, to explore a large variety of fish, plants, and substrates. With more than 400 species and 2000 fish in 140 fish tanks on display, the organisers aim to create awareness of this often forgotten part of nature.

“Everyone is busy with social media, and playgrounds have almost vanished. With this exhibition, we aim to bring nature closer to people, and thereby encourage them to develop an ornamental fish hobby,” says Lourdes Fernandes, the organiser of the exhibition. He further says that his team wants to bring a live aquarium closer to the people, by displaying a large variety of fishes. “We want people to come and feel the nature closely. This is a way of reducing stress as well,” says the organiser.

According to Fernandes, the fish and some of the tanks have been curated from more than 100 hobbyists, adoption centers and fish collectors. Lourdes also informs that some of the exotic fishes have been imported from abroad to educate people about the diversity of these creatures. “We want people to come and see how much the nature has offered us and aquarium fishes are one of them,” he says.

The major attractions at the exhibition are the arowana, arapriama, black ghost, devilfish, alligator gar, stingray, vhimle, mars fish, and starfish, among many others. Along with the display, the organisers have also displayed a book which explains how to take care of the fishes to those who intend to keep them as pets. There are also chart boards on each tank explaining the requirements of a particular fish, including food habits and the duration of survival. “There are a variety of fishes which can survive from five to thirty years, and when someone wants to keep any of them in their house, then they should know the requirements,” Fernandes says, adding that anyone can keep a pet fish if they have the basic knowledge.

Volunteers are present to assist anyone who is unable to read the descriptions on the tanks.

Among those who visited the exhibit on its opening day is 26-year-old Prabhu Swami. For Prabhu, it was a completely unreal experience to see all these fishes he has never heard of before. “I wasn’t aware that we have these many fishes in the sea. I have seen many fishes in movies, but seeing them live and knowing their names was an amazing experience,” says Prabhu, who visited the expo with his friends and feels that children should surely visit.

He further recalls that he travelled back to his childhood days after exploring the exhibit. “It took me an hour and half to explore the entire exhibition, and some of the fishes were unforgettable and very beautiful. There were only colours around,” he smiles.

Pune local Loukik Soman also visited the exhibition on a recent work trip to Mumbai. “I was on my work trip and was just looking online for something to do and I found this expo interesting,” he says.

For the 36-year-old, it was a learning experience and mesmerising to see Tarzan fish, a kind he had never heard off. “I am happy to see that there are more fishes than just the ones we eat,” he laughs.

When asked if he is too old to visit the exhibition, as fishes mainly interest kids, he differs saying, “These are exotic fishes which we can’t afford to have in home, neither do we otherwise get to see. So these exhibitions are for everyone. You feel close to nature.”