On 24 May 2025, the Catfish Conservation Day (German: Wels Arterhaltungs Tag) took place at the Jägerhaus in Fulda. A total of 72 participants came together who are enthusiastic about the diversity, care and protection of catfish.

The programme was top-class and offered three exciting specialist lectures:

Hans Evers – Fishing on the upper Rio Trombetas
Hans Evers opened the day with a gripping travelogue. With impressive pictures and many personal impressions, he showed fishing on the upper Rio Trombetas in Brazil. This not only highlighted the diversity of the species living there, but also the challenges associated with their protection.

Ingo Seidel – Gattung Hypancistrus genus: reproduction, care and breeding

In the second lecture, Ingo Seidel presented his expertise on the popular Hypancistrus genus. From species-appropriate care and breeding approaches to tips from many years of experience, the audience received practical information that can be directly applied to their own aquarium keeping.

Daniel Konn-Vetterlein – Madidi: A biodiversity hotspot in flames
The event concluded with a presentation by Daniel Konn-Vetterlein. He took the audience on a journey to Madidi National Park in Bolivia, one of the most species-rich regions in the world. He gave a vivid description of how forest fires are threatening this biodiversity hotspot and how urgent it is to take protective measures.

Between the presentations, there was plenty of time for conversations, discussions and exchanges. The Jägerhaus in Fulda provided the ideal setting for this with its pleasant atmosphere and good catering.
The 2025 Catfish Conservation Day was a complete success for all participants: exciting specialist presentations, many new impressions and a motivating sense of community that once again noticeably strengthened the passion for catfish and their conservation.

Text: André Grünwald
Pictures: Thomas Baumeister, Peter Schwabe, Gerhard Wessely