China
- Thread starter Tony Vargas
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OP
OP
Go or not Hong Kong, China？
I did not visit Hong Kong during this trip, but many of the people I met at the CIPS show suggested that I make it a priority with my next visit.
NeuroticAquatics
Valuable Member
Amazing thread. The gene spliced colors are insane. Looks like they took whites and dipped them in Easter egg dye.
OP
OP
Like I had mentioned earlier, there were several stores that sold saltwater fish and corals. Here is a store front with two typical Chinese tanks setup as reef displays. As you can see the stand and the canopies are heavily decorated, which is the way of the Chinese market.
These systems did remind me of the early days of reefing. For the most part reef tanks in the 90s were tall and narrow with no thought to surface area. In addition, many of the reef tanks in the 90’s were decorated with brown, soft and LPS corals. But, it makes sense since the Chinese are starting to embrace our hobby with much enthusiasm. This will shift quickly.
These systems did remind me of the early days of reefing. For the most part reef tanks in the 90s were tall and narrow with no thought to surface area. In addition, many of the reef tanks in the 90’s were decorated with brown, soft and LPS corals. But, it makes sense since the Chinese are starting to embrace our hobby with much enthusiasm. This will shift quickly.
OP
OP
Our last night in Guangzhou was a very exciting one. We took a ride to a famous wholesale fish and seafood market, Huangsha Aquatic Products Market.
China has been a place of many unexpected yet welcome surprises and this place was the real deal! I do not like tourist trip, but this one was very enjoyable. We walked around for at least an hour or so, just looking at the endless variety of fish and crustaceans. Most were being packed and trans-shipped to other parts of China for resale in supermarkets or used in restaurants.
We saw seafood varieties of all types and sizes. Many different types of groupers and snappers. Now when it came to groupers I saw them from one foot to five feet long. My first response was why not leave them in the ocean and soon found out that 90% of the live seafood being sold at this market were farmed. All the crustaceans including those large Mantis Shrimp are being farmed for these markets.
The way it works is like this, you purchase your selected seafood live by weight, pay for it on the spot. Then carry it into one of the nearby specialty restaurants. Which in our case was a restaurant upstairs above the place of purchase. They take the selected items and cook them to your liking and serve it with vegetables and other side dishes of your choice.
Fresh seafood is amazing when compared to frozen.
China has been a place of many unexpected yet welcome surprises and this place was the real deal! I do not like tourist trip, but this one was very enjoyable. We walked around for at least an hour or so, just looking at the endless variety of fish and crustaceans. Most were being packed and trans-shipped to other parts of China for resale in supermarkets or used in restaurants.
We saw seafood varieties of all types and sizes. Many different types of groupers and snappers. Now when it came to groupers I saw them from one foot to five feet long. My first response was why not leave them in the ocean and soon found out that 90% of the live seafood being sold at this market were farmed. All the crustaceans including those large Mantis Shrimp are being farmed for these markets.
The way it works is like this, you purchase your selected seafood live by weight, pay for it on the spot. Then carry it into one of the nearby specialty restaurants. Which in our case was a restaurant upstairs above the place of purchase. They take the selected items and cook them to your liking and serve it with vegetables and other side dishes of your choice.
Fresh seafood is amazing when compared to frozen.
OP
OP
The days and the hours passed by so quickly during this visit to Guangzhou. In addition to this China voyage we had arranged a visit to the Philippines before heading off to Shanghai for the CIPS show. From Guangzhou to Manila it’s just a short plane ride, since the two are so close to one another.
There were two objectives I wanted to accomplish during my visit to Manila. First and foremost was to interview the most decorated four star general, General Hermogenes Cendaña Esperon, Jr. (Ret.). This interview is focused on what his plans are now that he is retired from the Chief of Staff position within the Philippine government. You will learn in future post what his goals are with regards to the Philippines and the corals reefs.
The other exciting part of this visit was meeting up with my longtime friend Barnett Shutman at his facility RVS Fishworld Inc. in Manila. Unfortunately, he was not in town to greet me, but his family more than made up for his absence. RVS Fishworld is the largest exporter of marine fish and invertebrates in the Philippines.
We are on the doorstep of a beautiful exploration with this short visit to the Philippines.
At the airport in China, ready to board the plane.
Over 7100 islands, with some uncharted reefs.
At the beach in the Philippines.
There were two objectives I wanted to accomplish during my visit to Manila. First and foremost was to interview the most decorated four star general, General Hermogenes Cendaña Esperon, Jr. (Ret.). This interview is focused on what his plans are now that he is retired from the Chief of Staff position within the Philippine government. You will learn in future post what his goals are with regards to the Philippines and the corals reefs.
The other exciting part of this visit was meeting up with my longtime friend Barnett Shutman at his facility RVS Fishworld Inc. in Manila. Unfortunately, he was not in town to greet me, but his family more than made up for his absence. RVS Fishworld is the largest exporter of marine fish and invertebrates in the Philippines.
We are on the doorstep of a beautiful exploration with this short visit to the Philippines.
At the airport in China, ready to board the plane.
Over 7100 islands, with some uncharted reefs.
At the beach in the Philippines.
I have really enjoyed reading about your "journey", your dialogue and pictures make it so interesting and always look forward to seeing a new post. Thank you so much for sharing it with us. And this last picture of the beach is awesome.
TUSI
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Wow thank you for sharing.
bairdimusprime
Bill
this is a great thread! happy to be following
OP
OP
The plane lands in Manila. I disembark an air conditioned plane only to be smacked in the face with what feels like mid-summer hot Florida air. In addition to this hot humid air, while waiting for car service it started to down-pour heavily. Welcome to the Philippines.
Visiting the Philippines was a three day affair, which came with two major objectives. First and foremost, my visit to RVS Fishworld Inc., an amazing company own by my longtime friend Barnett Shutman, and his family. Unfortunately, Barnett was detained in New York due to some home issues that needed serious attention.
We in the U.S. as well countless countries around the world import many fish, invertebrates, and soft corals from the Philippines and their largest exporter is RVS Fishworld, Inc., established in 2003.
This magnificent facility accommodates in its current arrangement over 61,000 gallons of water filtered with the most advance filtration system found at any warehouse. RVS employs two industrial-sized fluidized filter beds and a 2,000 gallon protein skimmer with a flow rate of 400 gallons per minute. Once the water has been properly treated it is sent through their enormous chillers and U.V. systems to accomplish pristine water quality.
Fish arrive on a daily bases and are evaluated in a state-of-the-art screening area, where they properly condition and acclimate all incoming inventory. Upon completion of the screening process all new arrivals are placed in more than 12,000 multi-sized acrylic cubicles.
What is most encouraging about their business philosophy is their support for net caught fish. Collectors throughout the region are provided with yards of netting material, diver's watches and accessories, which assist with collection and safety. In addition, they invest in net training programs for their diver by hiring Haribon Foundation and International Marine Alliance.
I would like to thank Mon Sibayan, Barnett's brother-in-law for touring me around Manila. Also, I would like to thank Barnett's family for greeting me with open arms (Corazon, Ricky and Sammy) and making me feel like a long lost family member.
Visiting the Philippines was a three day affair, which came with two major objectives. First and foremost, my visit to RVS Fishworld Inc., an amazing company own by my longtime friend Barnett Shutman, and his family. Unfortunately, Barnett was detained in New York due to some home issues that needed serious attention.
We in the U.S. as well countless countries around the world import many fish, invertebrates, and soft corals from the Philippines and their largest exporter is RVS Fishworld, Inc., established in 2003.
This magnificent facility accommodates in its current arrangement over 61,000 gallons of water filtered with the most advance filtration system found at any warehouse. RVS employs two industrial-sized fluidized filter beds and a 2,000 gallon protein skimmer with a flow rate of 400 gallons per minute. Once the water has been properly treated it is sent through their enormous chillers and U.V. systems to accomplish pristine water quality.
Fish arrive on a daily bases and are evaluated in a state-of-the-art screening area, where they properly condition and acclimate all incoming inventory. Upon completion of the screening process all new arrivals are placed in more than 12,000 multi-sized acrylic cubicles.
What is most encouraging about their business philosophy is their support for net caught fish. Collectors throughout the region are provided with yards of netting material, diver's watches and accessories, which assist with collection and safety. In addition, they invest in net training programs for their diver by hiring Haribon Foundation and International Marine Alliance.
I would like to thank Mon Sibayan, Barnett's brother-in-law for touring me around Manila. Also, I would like to thank Barnett's family for greeting me with open arms (Corazon, Ricky and Sammy) and making me feel like a long lost family member.
