A fisherman caught and released a giant wels catfish in the Seine River in Paris [1].
The incident highlights the presence of large predatory fish within the urban waterways of the French capital. While the Seine is a central landmark of Paris, the discovery of such a large specimen draws attention to the river's ecosystem.
The event took place in July [1]. A woman passing by witnessed the encounter as the fisherman managed to land the large fish. The wels catfish is known for reaching significant sizes, often becoming a spectacle when captured in populated areas.
After the fish was caught, the fisherman chose to return the animal to the water [1]. The release allowed the fish to continue inhabiting the river system, a decision that avoided the removal of a large predator from the local environment.
Observers noted the scale of the fish during the process. The wels catfish is a species capable of growing to immense proportions, which often leads to local nicknames like "Godzilla" when particularly large individuals are spotted in European rivers [1].
The release was completed in the presence of the passerby, ensuring the animal returned to the Seine safely [1].
“A giant wels catfish was caught from the Seine and then released back into the river.”
The presence of large wels catfish in the Seine indicates that the river can support apex predators despite the heavy urbanization of Paris. The decision to release the fish suggests a growing trend of catch-and-release fishing to maintain biodiversity in city waterways.
