Wow: NZ fishermen land colossal squid

[malaise]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6385071.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/sci_nat_enl_1172138091/html/1.stm
<snip>
New Zealand fishermen have caught what is expected to be a world-record-breaking colossal squid.

Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton said the squid, weighing an estimated 450kg (990lb),took two hours to land in Antarctic waters.

Local news said the Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni was about 10m (33ft) long, and was the first adult colossal squid landed intact.

One expert said calamari rings made from it would be like tractor tyres.

"I can assure you that this is going to draw phenomenal interest. It is truly amazing," Steve O'Shea from Auckland's University of Technology told local media.

[xchrom]

1. that is so cool.

those things -- when i see the pics -- are bigger than i imagine in my mind.

[malaise]

2. Yep

I was fascinated when I saw this on BBC a while ago. Massive indeed - when I see these creatures I wonder what is watching me from below as I swim in the Caribbean sea.

[SoCalDem]

3. I know they need to study these things, but every time I hear of this type of "catch"

I am always sad to know that this magnificent creature must be really something to have grown to that size, only to be hauled into a boat so it can be watched as it dies, and then later photographed and dissected.:cry:

I'd prefer to just "know they are out there" and do not need to see them up close and personal..and dead :(

[malaise]

4. Good point

but since they're so rarely sighted, we can assume that they don't catch too many of them.

[SoCalDem]

5. The thing that bothers me is that someday a fisherman will catch the last one

and will we even know?

[Leopolds Ghost]

15. Well, fortunately, nobody has ever captured a giant squid before, alive or dead. n/t

[B Calm]

6. I feel the same way when I see a redneck and huge rotting catfish

in the back of a pickup. Pretty common site here along the Wabash river. Most are caught on trot lines or by hogging..

[Puglover]

14. I agree.

It's a sad thought that our species sometimes seems so hell bent on wiping out everything on this planet. I really do think someday Gaia will rebel.

[bluerum]

7. Lets kill it,,,,, eom

[muriel_volestrangler]

8. P.Z. Myers (Pharyngula) will have a field day when he wakes up

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/

The best science blog - especially for squid and octopus matters :evilgrin:

[pnorman]

10. thanks for the tip!

I just finished that "Creationiasm? vs Evolutionism youTube video. I was enthralled!

pnorman

[pinniped]

9. These greedy fishermen were fishing for threatened Patagonian toothfish (Chilean sea bass).

Where's Moby Dick?

[radfringe]

11. are they sure it's a squid?

I mean... ummm... isn't Cheney visting Australia? He could have fallen in the ocean and couldn't get out... :rofl:

[bmbmd]

12. So now who will manage

"The Krabby Patty"?

[cool user name]

13. Size for reference ...