‘The first fish’: 18.5kg bighead carp auctioned for US$5,800 in China

An 18.5kg giant bighead carp sold at auction for 38,000 yuan (US$5,800) at an annual fishing festival in Bosten Lake in China’s far western Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Thousands of people gathered for the Mongolian-style ceremony that marks the start of the fishing season. The carp was the biggest caught in the first net of the season and was put on auction as per tradition. It was purchased by an aquaculture businessman, who said he would keep it for good luck.