Investigation Reveals Wels Fish at Brombachsee Wasn't Shot

Recent developments from the police have clarified the situation surrounding the Wels fish incident at Brombachsee in Middle Franconia, which involved an attack on several bathers. Contrary to earlier reports stating that a police officer had shot the fish, authorities have confirmed that the fish survived the encounter with the police.

Approximately three weeks ago, five bathers were attacked by a large Wels fish measuring over two meters in length and weighing around 90 kilograms. Initial media reports suggested that a police officer had fatally shot the fish. However, Michael Petzold, a spokesperson for the police department in Middle Franconia, clarified that this interpretation was incorrect. The police had never asserted that they had killed the fish, but rather that the officer fired several shots in the fish's direction.

On June 21, the police had issued a statement indicating that a police officer had fired his service weapon at the fish after the attacks. The statement also noted that two anglers later retrieved the fish from the lake. The police believe that one of the shots may have struck the fish, but it appears to have survived the incident.

Currently, the public prosecutor's office in Ansbach is investigating potential violations of animal protection laws related to the incident. The decision to use a firearm was made after discussions with the water rescue service of the Bavarian Red Cross and the local angling association, following the aggressive behavior exhibited by the fish.

Experts suggest that the Wels's behavior could be attributed to the low water levels in the lake, which forced the fish to seek shelter in deeper waters, close to the swimming area. To mitigate the threat posed by the fish, the police determined that removal was necessary, as simply scaring it away would not prevent its return.

Given the circumstances, angling was also deemed impractical due to the potential time it would take for the fish to bite. The beach had already been closed for several hours, and with a nearby music festival drawing 7,500 attendees, the beach would have remained closed until the fish was caught.

Once the fish was finally visible on the surface, the officer discharged three rounds. About 40 minutes later, the two anglers were able to catch the fish, and it was subsequently retrieved from the water. Remarkably, the fish showed no external injuries, and a local restaurant owner who later filleted it found no signs of a bullet.

The police explained that they utilized ammunition designed to minimize the impact force upon hitting the water surface. As such, it is believed that the fish may have only been temporarily disoriented, similar to the effects of a blunt force.

As the breeding season for Wels fish is nearing its end, further incidents involving aggressive behavior from Wels in the near future are considered unlikely, as the fish will no longer be protecting their nests.