The police shoot aggressive catfish: bathers in danger at the Brombachsee!

The police shoot aggressive catfish: bathers in danger at the Brombachsee!

Am Brombachsee in the district of Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen there was a worrying incident that not only caused the bathers but also the authorities excited. A catfish over two meters long, which weighs around 90 kilograms, injured at least five swimmers. A police officer was forced to shoot the animal when the situation as a security risk for the bathers and a nearby music festival was assessed. The aggressive fish showed up near a swimminsel, which caused the water watch and the Red Cross to alert the police to prevent further attacks.

After the rescue workers had provided the bite wounds of the bathers on site, the area had to be blocked. The bathing area could only be released again after the welfare was rescued by two anglers. The bites were treated quickly, but the question remains: What led to this unexpected appearance of the great fish? [Br.de reports that…] (https://www.br.de/nachrichten/bayern/nachwels-tod-im-brombachsee-wer-greift-in-wessen-lebaum-ein-ein

why aggression?

A spokesman for the Bavarian State Fishing Association said that the conditions in spring - cool temperatures and low water level - may have contributed to the aggressive behavior of the catfish. Walse has been observed in many waters in recent years, but it is important to emphasize that such incidents are quite rare. The fish is also referred to in the region as a waller and is known for grending in calm waters and preferring great depths.

The Brombachsee, which is part of the Franconian Seenland, was created by humans and serves not only the water management, but also to promote tourism. Dušan Palić from LMU Munich points out that the lake also protects aquatic ecosystems. However, the incident has disassembled a heated discussion: How did it come about that a catfish who had not been occupied in this region for a long time showed such dangerous attacks? Users speculate about whether the fish may have reached the Brombachsee via a transfer system, while there has been no official catfish since 1998.

dealing with the situation

The situation leads to heated discussion rounds among the residents and visitors. Some demand that signs are set up in spawning time to warn swimmers, others think about barriers. Even if Palić explains that such signs are usually intended for endangered species, the question of the safety of bathers remains up to date. The setting up of signs is considered not very practical because European catfish is currently not under species protection.

Recently there was a similar incident in the Greifensee, in which a swimmer was bitten by a catfish. These events raise the question of whether aggressive catfish will occur more frequently in the future. Climate change seems to favor the spread of this catfish in Germany, and experts expect copies of over 1.50 meters to be found more frequently in the near future. For comparison: In Mönchengladbach there was once the phenomenon "Kuno, the Killerwels" over 20 years ago, which shows that the danger from such fish is not new n-tv reports on the Incidents.

The discussion about suitable measures to prevent such incidents is in full swing. It remains to be seen whether this is done by clarification, preventive measures or surveillance. While catfish are not considered particularly dangerous and usually do not cause serious injuries, it is clear that the balance between humans and animals in such natural areas is extremely sensitive. Movements such as building protection zones or targeted fish stocking strategies are repeatedly brought to conversation in order to avoid future incidents. Tagesanzeiger describes the general problem.