Post by tekmac on Jul 18, 2005 11:26:07 GMT -5
First winged fish landed in British waters as sea temperatures rise
By Geoffrey Lakeman
FISHERMAN were baffled after catching the first flying fish off the British coast.
They had never seen the six-inch winged creature which is normally found in the warm waters of the South Atlantic and Pacific.
It was identified by experts at an aquarium who believe it may have moved north as a result of global warming.
The catch, off the coast of South Devon, follows the discovery of semi-tropical scorpion fish and trigger fish in Cornwall.
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Fishmonger Stephen Rogers put the fish on display at his shop in Seaton, Devon, after it was caught by a Brixham-based trawler.
Stephen said: "I saw it at market and bought it as a novelty to put on display.
"It proves the climate is changing and it has been a real talking point with my customers."
The flying fish, Cheilopogon Heterurus, cannot normally survive in the cold English Channel.
Some of the hundreds of different species grow up to 18 inches.
Long wing-like fins keep them airborne for a few feet after leaping out of the water to escape predators. Douglas Henderson at the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth said: "There have been two or three sightings of the flying fish by yachtsmen in mid Channel but until now we have not been 100 per cent certain they exist in our waters.
"It's not normally found north of the Bay of Biscay and is one of a number of fish discovered recently which may be here as a result of rising sea temperatures."
Brixham Trawler Agent auctioneer Todd Crombie added: "I have never seen anything like this. We're getting more and more Mediterranean fish in our waters.
"This year we have also had some fantastic trigger fish and sunfish."
Matt Slater, of the Blue Reef Aquarium in Newquay, Cornwall, said: "A flying fish in these parts is an extremely rare occurrence."
By Geoffrey Lakeman
FISHERMAN were baffled after catching the first flying fish off the British coast.
They had never seen the six-inch winged creature which is normally found in the warm waters of the South Atlantic and Pacific.
It was identified by experts at an aquarium who believe it may have moved north as a result of global warming.
The catch, off the coast of South Devon, follows the discovery of semi-tropical scorpion fish and trigger fish in Cornwall.
Advertisement
Falk AdSolution
Fishmonger Stephen Rogers put the fish on display at his shop in Seaton, Devon, after it was caught by a Brixham-based trawler.
Stephen said: "I saw it at market and bought it as a novelty to put on display.
"It proves the climate is changing and it has been a real talking point with my customers."
The flying fish, Cheilopogon Heterurus, cannot normally survive in the cold English Channel.
Some of the hundreds of different species grow up to 18 inches.
Long wing-like fins keep them airborne for a few feet after leaping out of the water to escape predators. Douglas Henderson at the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth said: "There have been two or three sightings of the flying fish by yachtsmen in mid Channel but until now we have not been 100 per cent certain they exist in our waters.
"It's not normally found north of the Bay of Biscay and is one of a number of fish discovered recently which may be here as a result of rising sea temperatures."
Brixham Trawler Agent auctioneer Todd Crombie added: "I have never seen anything like this. We're getting more and more Mediterranean fish in our waters.
"This year we have also had some fantastic trigger fish and sunfish."
Matt Slater, of the Blue Reef Aquarium in Newquay, Cornwall, said: "A flying fish in these parts is an extremely rare occurrence."