Poaching fish Arapaima 'living fossil' in Brazil

REUTERS - Villagers from the Rumao Island community carry part of their catch of arapaima or pirarucu, the largest freshwater fish species in South America and one of the largest in the world, after fishing in a branch of the Solimoes river, one of the main tributaries of the Amazon, in the Mamiraua nature reserve near Fonte Boa about 600 km (373 miles) west of Manaus, November 25, 2013. Catching the arapaima, a fish that is sought after for its meat and is considered by biologists to be a living fossil, is only allowed once a year by Brazil's environmental protection agency. The minimum size allowed for a fisherman to keep an arapaima is 1.5 meters (4.9 feet). Picture taken November 25, 2013.

Arapaima is a much sought-meat fish. But by biologists, this fish is called living fossils. Brazilian environmental protection agency of fishing is only allowed once a year. The minimum size of fish that may be caught is 1.5 meters.