An endangered swordfish has been found dead on a beach in South Wales.
The 224cm long billfish was found yesterday on Barry Island beach, near the Vale of Glamorgan in South Wales, and is believed to weigh 60-80 kg.
The identity of the fish was confirmed by Doug Herdson, Information Officer for the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth, who manages the UK Marine Fish Recording Scheme.
Herdson said the fish was a swordfish, Xiphias gladius, the sole member of the swordfish family Xiphiidae:
"The records show that while swordfish are rare, they do turn up from time to time in the waters around the British Isles; but there have only ever been three marlins found in the UK.
"The first swordfish in Wales was off Newport back in 1905; while in 2003 one was stranded at Rhossili on the Gower, despite efforts to rescue it , it died an hour later.
full story
http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/item.php?news=1731
The 224cm long billfish was found yesterday on Barry Island beach, near the Vale of Glamorgan in South Wales, and is believed to weigh 60-80 kg.
The identity of the fish was confirmed by Doug Herdson, Information Officer for the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth, who manages the UK Marine Fish Recording Scheme.
Herdson said the fish was a swordfish, Xiphias gladius, the sole member of the swordfish family Xiphiidae:
"The records show that while swordfish are rare, they do turn up from time to time in the waters around the British Isles; but there have only ever been three marlins found in the UK.
"The first swordfish in Wales was off Newport back in 1905; while in 2003 one was stranded at Rhossili on the Gower, despite efforts to rescue it , it died an hour later.
full story
http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/item.php?news=1731
