Water warming promotes the growth of catfish

Over the past 20 years. In addition, the number of catches of catfish has increased massively in Switzerland. For example, The hotter and warmer temperatures in rivers promote the reproduction of these predators. Moreover, And they become bigger and older. Similarly, – Water warming promotes growth catfish

(Keystone-ATS) An amateur fisherman recently released a 2.2 meter long and weighing 86.5 kilos catfish from the old Rhine near Diepoldsau (SG), reported the newspaper “Der Rheintaler”. However, “For the Rhine Valley, this fish is a real water warming promotes growth catfish monster,” read the article.

Siles over two meters long are regularly captured, especially in Lake Constance, said David Frei at the Keystone-ATS news agency. The deputy chief of the fishing department of the canton of Saint-Gall knows the taking of Diepoldsau only by. the media. According to him, it seems however plausible from a technical point of view.

More and more catfish

The fishermen have drawn more and more Swiss waters in the past 20 years. The most recent figures in the Federal Environment Office date from 2023. 7,622 captured catfish then entered the fishing statistics, against only 506 copies in 2003.

This sharp increase would be linked to increasingly high water temperatures caused by global warming, explains Mr. Frei. They promote both the spread and the growth of catfish.

In recent years, particularly large and heavy cattle announcements have therefore multiplied. In 2011, a sports fisherman brought a catfish of 2.40 meters and water warming promotes growth catfish 83 kilos to the mouth of the Rhine in Lake Constance.

According to the media, a 2.72 -meter catfish captured and prepared in 2019 is hung on the wall of a Vorarlberg restaurant near Bregenz (A). The Langenargen Fishing Museum (D) presents it to visitors a 2.43 meter specimen.

Bathers attack in Germany

On June 20, a catfish caused a sensation in Germany. According to police, a two -meter -long fish attacked and injured at least five bathers in Lake Brumbachsee in Bavaria. A police officer finally shot his service weapon on the animal, who did not allow himself to be hunted.

In the canton of Saint-Gall, we are not aware of cattle attacks on bathers or domestic animals, explains Mr. Frei. “What is important is respect for us humans towards living aquatic beings like catfish,” he adds.