Charting a course for modernisation

Fishkeeping has been stagnating for years, not just in one country or particular region, but worldwide. The possible reasons for this have been the subject of lively debate in the sector for a long time. One thing that people now agree on is that the image of fishkeeping needs to be modernised considerably in future if the hobby is to be able to compete with dream holidays, iPhones and flat screen TVs. To do this, the sector must give its reputation a vigorous makeover. Many people think that fishkeeping is a hobby just for pensioners. Others consider it too technical, too complicated and too time-consuming. After years of slumber, the sector has been given new momentum by nano aquariums. Women and young people, target groups that were scarcely noticed before, have suddenly developed a liking for the underwater world. Nano aquariums have not so far succeeded in turning the negative sales trend from which the sector is suffering into a positive one, however. PET worldwide has asked market experts for their ideas on how the crisis in fishkeeping can be overcome. Connecting aquariums to computer systems is the suggestion of one Eheim manager. The Greek pet supplies retail chain Pet City believes that the answer is to prefer real plants to plastic toys and to put the focus on big aquariums that can host a large variety of fish. Other sector insiders point to the necessity for energy-saving technologies that help to reduce the electricity bills. Sustainability is another aspect that has been mentioned repeatedly in relation to fishkeeping. These interesting answers show that fishkeeping is well on the way to modernising itself and shedding its old-fashioned image. That was urgently required, because a hobby cannot survive on pensioners alone if it is to avoid an early demise. Whether fishkeeping will succeed in regaining popularity on its former scale is uncertain. It is also unclear whether the excellent sales figures that were taken for granted in the 1990s will ever return. But that shouldn’t deter the aquatics sector from continuing to follow the modernising path that it has embarked on in the future too. Yours Ralf Majer-Abele Download: Charting a course for modernisation (PDF file)