Cranes fish gigantic whale shark in Karachi

Powerful cranes fished out a giant whale shark near Karachi shore, as hundreds of curious onlookers gathered to witness the moment. The 40-foot-long whale shark was spotted unconscious some 150 kilometres in the sea by local fishermen 10 days ago. Private TV channels reported that two cranes initially attempted to pull out the dead whale shark weighing over 44 tonnes, but the authorities had to call in more powerful cranes to lift the giant fish. TV channels reported that the whale shark had been auctioned at Rs 1.7 million but an official had sold it for Rs 200,000. Local fishermen say the shark’s meat is not consumable but oil extracted from its fat and liver has various uses. The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is a slow-moving, filter feeding fish. It is the largest extant fish species with a “vulnerable” conservation status. It is found in the warm and tropical seas and has a lifespan of almost 70 years.