Interview with Michael J. Schönefeld about aquaristic fairs

Michael, you are the only trade fair organizer in Germany that specializes exclusively in aquaristics trade fairs. How did this come about?

In 2012 Norbert Zajac announced that he would no longer organize his well-known trade fairs "Zierfisch & Aquarium" and the "International Discus Championship". There was great consternation in the discus scene and everyone was at a loss as to what Germany would do without a discus championship. At that time I "only" had my small aquaristic publishing house - on the side, mind you - and without hesitation I decided that I would do it, but  not in Duisburg but in Dortmund. In the beginning, only a European Discus Championship was planned, but when the ball started rolling, it quickly turned into an aquaristics exhibition - the aqua EXPO days.

And you are also involved in aquaristics as a hobby, so you don't just organize these fairs for commercial reasons?

Yes, I have been an aquarist for almost 30 years, in 2012 I was still breeding discus fish, now I am breeding guppies and various dwarf shrimp. I think that you can also notice my fairs, because I am sure that I could not implement, for example, a computer fair or car show so if I would not be there fully and completely behind it and would have knowledge of the subject.

In the meantime you are still doing two fairs in Nuremberg, once the "Aquaristikreich" and once the "Teich & Koi Visions". What else can we expect from you in the future?

Yes, that's right, in 2016 the aqua EXPO days in Dortmund will celebrate their 5th anniversary, so there will be a few more attractions than usual. And I'm currently in the preparations for my youngest baby, the "Hamburger Vivaristik Tage", which will take place on April 9 and 10 in Hamburg. Here I have paired the topic terraristics with aquaristics to use synergies. There will also be a European Nano-Aquascaping Championship and a Neocaridina davidi Championship in Hamburg.

And your specialist publishing house, what is going on there at the moment? I can imagine that with so many trade shows there is little time left for publishing activities - right?

Yes, that is correct. I discontinued my Diskus Yearbook this year, as well as the Guppy Journal. I now only publish the "aquaMAG", which is available as a free eMagazine for online reading and in limited printed form for free at selected outlets. Here you will find informative reports on all aspects of aquaristics as well as detailed pre- and post-show reports on all my trade shows.

Michael, thank you very much for the interview and thank you for taking the time. I for my part must say I am already looking forward to my next exhibitions with you.