Big Pond :

I bet that mekong catfish that was on here about 6 mths ago was a lot older than 30. ewest

By Katie Kalmerton
Published: Thursday, October 13, 2005
Article Tools: Page 1 of 1
Media Credit: Zeb Hogan

Media Credit: Zeb Hogan
The world´s largest freshwater fish: a giant 646 lb. catfish caught by fishermen in northern Thailand.

Media Credit: Zeb Hogan
Zeb Hogan holds a Taiman. These fish can grow to two meters in length and weigh up to 450 lb.

Weighing 646 pounds and measuring 8'10" in length, a goliath catfish was hauled in off the coasts of Thailand this year.

It was later recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest freshwater fish.

The locals attempted to keep the fish alive and free it. However, it died and was used for food.

This giant fish was not a freak of nature by any means. The goliath catfish was once up to 99 percent more prevalent in the Mekong River of Indochina. Presently, giant fish-defined as fish six feet in length or longer and 200 pounds or more-are becoming scarce worldwide.

In collaboration with National Geographic, the World Wildlife Fund, the World Conservation Union, also known as IUCN and researchers at UW-Madison, Zeb Hogan, a post doctoral fellow at the center for limnology at UW-Madison, began a global project in November to identify the world's largest freshwater fish.

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