23/11/2025
World Fisheries Day is celebrated annually on November 21st. The aquatic world community remembers individuals who have made significant contributions to the field.
Alex Ploeg
(former Secretary General of Ornamental Fish International, OFI) sadly passed away with his family in the Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crash over Ukraine on July 17, 2014. His work in the tropical fish industry and OFI was highly regarded.
Kripan Sarkar
was a notable individual who co-authored research papers and contributed to the evaluation and conservation of fish biodiversity in the Eastern Himalayan region's rivers.
Heiko Bleher
was a world-renowned German explorer, researcher, author, photographer, and filmmaker who dedicated his life to discovering and documenting freshwater fish and aquatic plants globally. He passed away on August 15, 2025. Many species, such as the Rummynose Tetra (Hemigrammus bleheri) and the Ember Tetra (Hyphessobrycon amandae), are named after him or his family.
Gayatri Reksodihardjo-Lilley
great aquaculture trainer researcher from Bali Indonesia.
Their collective passion, knowledge, and tireless efforts in exploration, conservation, and research have left a lasting impact on the global aquatic world and the hobby, and their legacies continue to inspire new generations.
