Friday, March 30, 2007

Cambodian Fishermen Land Whale Shark

The whale shark accidentally caught in Koh Kong (Photo: Khun Chhang, Koh Santepheap)

March 30th 2007
DPA

Cambodian fishermen near the Thai border have accidentally snared and killed a 6.2-metre whale shark in their nets, authorities said Friday.

Fisherman Ann Samlan immediately reported the catch to authorities, said deputy chief of the northwestern Koh Kong province environment office, Pen Vannarith.

"Locals were very sad and regretted this mistake very much," Vannarith said. "They didn't eat it, but instead gave it to us hoping taxidermists can preserve the animal as an educational exhibit for a museum."

He said villagers had previously reported a whale shark being washed up on a local beach in 1999.

The animal caught Thursday weighed 1,800 kilograms and was 3 metres around, with a mouth 75 centimetres in circumference, Vannarith said.

The plankton eating whale shark, or basking shark, is listed as "vulnerable" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN).

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh well, ... accident does happened
everywhere. At least, we get some
food for our table and the whale
is not dead by westerners'
polution.

Anonymous said...

eh gringos... khmer people from inside have enough food and the meat whale is for gringos and indiana jones in cage.

ah pleou! kindly spare us from your pleou comment!

Anonymous said...

Bullshit, dude, I just bought a
bunch of Nom Banh Chok to have
with the bay. It is rare that
we are lucky enough to caugh one
of them baby so often, hehehe.

Anonymous said...

Bullshit, dude, I just bought a
bunch of Nom Banh Chok to have
with the baby. It is rare that
we are lucky enough to caugh one
of them baby so often, hehehe.

Anonymous said...

In Japan, shark meat is very expensive. Early in the morning, the restaurant and market owners went to bit for the price of whale and other fishes to sell in the store. Some fishes can be cost as much as $10,000.

So lucky for Cambodia fisherman to caught one. If he sells to the Japanese fisherman, he will make a lot of money.

Anonymous said...

Yep, if we can get just $5,000,
he can retired on that.

Anonymous said...

OK so just continue catching more clean up all the whale in the ocean just like luxury wood. Ignoranes lead many ignorants all fall into the dig.

Anonymous said...

Vietcong eat dog and promoted dog eating culture in Cambodia!!!

Anonymous said...

Hey food is food. We ain't going
to go starving, alright?

Anonymous said...

11.36 pm, yuon gringo, i saw you eating scabs at stung mean chey. so this shart meat would be good for you asshole.

Anonymous said...

Whale Shark? Dosen't look like what I'd though it'd be. Still cool, though.

Anonymous said...

Whale shark watching is big tourism attraction just like Irrawadi dolphin attraction at Kratie. The fishermen can earn a lot more money from eco-tourists.