The models for Michael Sowa's paintings?

Immediately when I recently spotted frozen fish at a Harbin outdoor market (everything is frozen outdoor in Harbin at this time of the year), I thought that I have seen something very similar before. Now I know: they were perhaps the models for Michael Sowa's painting below. I came across it on a blog which i like very much, called www.artistsandart.org and the posting on Michael Sowa you fine by clicking here. Still trying to find out what fish these actually are.

Fish seen on a Harbin street market, on December 25th, 2013.

Fish seen on a Harbin street market, on December 25th, 2013.

Painting by Michael Sowa, as seen on www.artistsandart.org.

Painting by Michael Sowa, as seen on www.artistsandart.org.