Fish farm owner Sompass Meephan (C), together with two Thai fishery
officials, catches a 17-year-old giant Mekong catfish in Ayutthaya, 80
km (50 miles) north of Bangkok, September 23, 2002. Meephan presented
the Thai Department of Fishery with 100 of the world's largest
scaleless freshwater fish after raising them for almost 20 years. The
fish, which reaches an average weight of 250 kg (550 lb), is prized for
its taste, while its oil is used for cosmetic products. REUTERS/Sukree
Sukplang