Environment Agency - Oops!

Malt_Vinegar · 28 Aug 2009 at 17:25

Looks like the environment agency have screwed up a bit here.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/8226854.stm

Wrongly identified by the environment agency as a Piranha. You would have thought they would have researched and checked the species before informing the world??

It is a Pacu, and the biggest give away apart from the look of the fish, is the size. Pirahna rarely grow larger than 8 inches, and this was 14 inches. Straight away this should have made them double check!

But no, they go straight to the media and end up publishing a false headline grabbing story

Burned_Alive · 28 Aug 2009 at 17:28

Have you emailed them (the BBC)?

Viper² · 28 Aug 2009 at 17:30

FAIL.

PhillyDee · 28 Aug 2009 at 17:36

Lol, twice the size it should have been, and they said it was exceptional. Instead of wondering why . . . . .

Le_Petit_Lapin · 28 Aug 2009 at 17:41

OcUK 1
BBC 0

mistercrabb · 28 Aug 2009 at 17:43

Red Bellied Piranha
(Max Length 33cm - 13in)

Sorry, but its not a Pacu..

Check the Sun's version of the story, it has some better pictures..

Edit: Okay, one better picture Link

SoSolid · 28 Aug 2009 at 17:45

Piranha's can easily get to 14 inches.

Teifiterror · 28 Aug 2009 at 17:51

It isn't a pirannha, and looking at pictures the mouth and colour is similar to a pacu

Mr_White · 28 Aug 2009 at 18:19

It's a Pacu, this happens every time someone finds one where it shouldn't be "AMAGAD PIRANHA!!!"

Pacu in the articles:

Pacu compared to Red Belly Piranha:

Russinating · 28 Aug 2009 at 18:34

Case closed, I guess!

SoSolid · 28 Aug 2009 at 18:47

I still think it's a piranha.

Mr_White · 28 Aug 2009 at 18:54

SoSolid said:
I still think it's a piranha.

lol

V4NT0M · 28 Aug 2009 at 18:55

You're a Piranha!

Viper² · 28 Aug 2009 at 19:00

Your Mum's a Piranha!

mattyprice4004 · 28 Aug 2009 at 20:07

Malt_Vinegar · 28 Aug 2009 at 20:47

Ahhh, pacu all

hehe

I have told the BBC it is wrong, and also informed the environmental agency about the incorrect indentification.

SoSolid · 28 Aug 2009 at 20:56

Malt_Vinegar said:
Ahhh, pacu all
hehe

I have told the BBC it is wrong, and also informed the environmental agency about the incorrect indentification.

Nice spot old boy, take a bow son.

tom_smith · 28 Aug 2009 at 21:00

How have the environment agency failed here?

Malt_Vinegar · 28 Aug 2009 at 21:09

tom_smith said:
How have the environment agency failed here?

They informed the press that the located fish was a Piranha. They were wrong...

These are the people trusted to protect our environment, yet failed to pick out a herbivore, and claimed it was a carnivore.

I say thats a pretty big fail.

geekyEd · 28 Aug 2009 at 23:23

Who fails more them or the guy sad enough to report it?

Their point is still very valid, they were shocked to find a fish species that is not native to this country in a river.