Bluewater Lakes, an aquaculture fishery located in Champagne province, France, is a popular destination among anglers. The lake was home to a globally famous giant goldfish named "Carrot", a prized catch many fishermen aimed for as their personal goal.
Recently, the staff at Bluewater Lakes regretfully announced the sad news of Carrot's passing. However, some positive news has brought comfort to the anglers who miss her dearly.
According to The Sun, Carrot weighed an impressive 30 kilograms (66 pounds) and measured about 120 centimeters (4 feet) in length. She was estimated to be around 20 years old. Weighing nearly the same as a large Labrador retriever, Carrot was about 11 times the size of an average goldfish.
Although her bright orange-red appearance earned her the title of a giant goldfish, Carrot was actually a hybrid between a common carp and a koi fish—both species are typically orange in color.
Bluewater Lakes posted an obituary on their Facebook fan page saying, "We are very saddened by Carrot's passing. Her departure breaks our hearts, especially since we never want to see any fish in our lake pass away, let alone Carrot herself."
Carrot's body was found floating on the lake's surface, and the Bluewater Lakes team believes she died of natural causes.
Just last month, Lee Parker, an angler from Oxford, England, caught Carrot, weighed her, took photos, and then released her back into the water.
In 2022, 42-year-old angler Andy Hackett battled for 25 minutes before successfully catching Carrot. Photo credit: Dan Charity.
Bluewater Lakes expressed gratitude for the love and support from fans: "Having Carrot here was both a blessing and an honor for us." They also comforted everyone with, "With each life that passes, a new life is born."
In fact, Carrot had already become a mother, leaving behind two fish offspring: one weighing 18 kilograms—a common carp—and another smaller one that inherited Carrot's beautiful vibrant colors.
Is the wonder of life in nature truly full of mysteries?
