China holds world’s first beauty contest for goldfish
SHINY scales and super strong fins replaced tiaras and
sashes at the world’s first beauty contest for goldfish in China.More
than 3,000 fish from 14 different countries competed in the newly
established International Goldfish Championships held in Fuzhou at the
weekend .Breeders battled it out for a range of different titles, with
the World Goldfish Queen crown the most fiercely contested
category.Lined up on rows of tables in giant bowls, the ornamental fish
were judged across 12 categories including the longest and heaviest
goldfish.‘We judge goldfish mainly by five criteria: breed, body shape,
swimming gesture, colour, which is very important, and overall
impression,’ explained Ye Qichang, a member of the judge panel.The judge
was particularly impressed with a giant 1.75kg (3lb 5oz) prized
specimen fish competing in the competition.‘I have raised gold fish for
some 40 or 50 years, and it is the first time I’ve seen such a big
creature,’ said Mr Qichang.Goldfish breeding is big business in China,
said to be worth millions to the economy.‘I have started running this
business since 1984, it’s been almost 28 years,’ said local fish farm
owner Wang Aimin. ‘Our fish was mainly exported to Japan and southeast
Asia, but the domestic market has grown really fast in recent years. ‘In
Fuzhou, we export goldfish worth $30million every year and the domestic
market has reached over 100million yen.’ –GN