Catfish Study Group Convention

[Coryman]

In 2004 just prior to the All Catfish Convention In Maryland USA there were a number of PC members making uttering about having a Catfish Convention in Europe, well, funnily enough there has been a Catfish Convention here in the UK and yes it is in Europe, every year for the last 30 or so years. OK so they were all only one day events, usually being held on a Sunday. This in its self would have probably been a deterrent for those with a reasonable distance to come, having said that Manchester is less than a two hour flight from most European capitals.

Many will have seen the posts in the CSG forum, but may have got the idea that the convention is for CSG members only, it is NOT, any one can attend. It starts on Friday evening 17th February with an informal dinner and Catfish Forum. The main talks start on Saturday morning. There are four talks on Saturday and four on Sunday with the Convention dinner on Saturday evening. The full package including dinners, lunches and all day refreshments (Tea/Coffee) is £56.88 if your not a member or £52.88 if you are. With the line up of speakers we have I think that is exceptional value for money. Not only that but this is probably the last opportunity for any one on our side of the Atlantic to meat and hear Dr Stanley Weitzman. Dr Weitzman has been in the forefront of Ichthyology for more than fifty years and has been responsible for describing many Catfish.

Also on the agenda from the USA is Lee Finley who has also been around fishkeeping for many years and whose knowledge of the hobby is second to none. To balance the Atlantic see saw we have three expert German speakers Hans-Georg Evers, Ingo Seidel and Dr Stephan Hetz.

No excuses please, the cost of flights has never been cheeper and the hotel have given super B&B rates. For the full program and other details visit the GSG website or e-mail me.

Ian

[medaka]

having said that Manchester is less than a two hour flight from most European capitals.

For those that can not get a flight from their part of the globe to Manchester, The John Lennon airport, Liverpool. Is an alternative airport to use, being very similar in distance to the convention centre.

[Andrew]

Ian and the crew at CSG have prepared an amazing convention. The panel of speakers secured for the convention is top-notch and the best of both worlds, or both sides of the Atlantic anyway. Don't miss this opportunity to hear from expert catfish-ologists and meet with some of the finest catfish hobbyists in the world.

For those folks in North America, airline tickets are not quite so expensive as you might think. Check your with your favorite airline or travel web site before deciding not to go. You'll hear three speakers from Germany in Hans-Georg, Stephan and Ingo, any one of which would be worth the trip across the pond.

For the Europeans out there, we Americans are sending over two of our finest. Like Ian mentioned, Dr. Weitzman has been at the top of the science of ichthyology, especially concerning South American fishes, for more decades than many of us of been alive. Check your aquarium fish atlas to see who described many of the fishes that we keep in aquaria and you'll see plenty of examples with his name on them. Dr. Weitzman also does not travel much any more and it's a great accomplishment that we were able to convince him to attend the UK convention. He probably won't do so again so don't miss this chance! Lee Finley is a class act and a great speaker. He helped the aquarium catfish hobby in North America a great deal through his long-running and recently-revived columns on catfishes in hobyyist magazines here. Both, by the way, are great fun around a pint of beer too!