Police in Belgium admit they are clueless as they hunt thieves targeting prized Japanese koi — ornamental fish that sell for thousands of euros yet are practically uninsurable.
Champion Flemish growers with long and painful experience as victims fear ever-more costly security to protect these creatures that, left in peace, can live to 60 and eat their way to the size of a small pig.
“It’s the financial crisis,” Veerle Jakobs of Nippon Koi Garden, a Japanese-themed estate near Antwerp holding up to 6,000 fish in high season, told AFP from her site near one of Europe’s biggest ports.
Photo: AFP照片:法新社
Traders have reported a sudden series of koi robberies in Flanders in recent weeks, and two separate police districts are collaborating on live investigations.
A source who could not be identified said Interpol has been called in.
But lost stock is only part of the story.
Photo: AFP照片:法新社
Those who have devoted their lives to raising these technicolor-dreamlike fish warn that the crimes also pose a new threat to the carps’ health.
There is at least a two-decade history of industrial espionage — theft and poisoning by experienced, organized gangs is an accepted pitfall of the trade.
But local knowledge that Flanders is a center of excellence for decorative fish beloved by specialist collectors also provides a new motive — and creates fresh challenges for owners.
Photo: AFP照片:法新社
“They took 50 fish from my tank, but I’ll never see them again,” Herman Belon told AFP after his koi were stolen this month in Sint Niklaas, in western Flanders.
He reckons they are already on display in Japanese restaurants that will not know where they came from. The flesh is considered too dry to eat, but the manager of the high-end La Table Du Dragon in Brussels, who has at least 60 koi on display, was shocked when AFP told him about the robberies.(AFP)
比利時警方承認他們拿專偷日本錦鯉的竊賊毫無辦法。錦鯉是觀賞用的魚類,不僅要價高達數千歐元外,還被指定為無法投保的項目。
Photo: AFP照片:法新社
長期經歷遭竊之苦的法蘭德斯冠軍養殖者,擔心為了保護這些生物,要花愈來愈高額的保全費用。若讓這些魚兒能悠游生活,牠們可活上六十年之久,並且吃得跟小豬一樣大隻。
安特衛普附近錦鯉花園管理員菲爾勒‧雅各,從鄰近歐洲最大港之一的這座花園告訴法新社說:「這是金融危機所致。」該花園是一座日式主題莊園,旺季時,園內可養殖高達六千隻魚。
比利時法蘭德斯省突然在最近幾週接獲一連串的鯉魚偷竊案,該省兩區警局正聯手實地調查。
一位無法透露身分的消息人士指出,國際刑事警察組織已介入該案。
但損失的魚量只是冰山一角。
那些一生奉獻養殖夢幻般色彩鮮艷錦鯉的業者警告說,這些犯罪也會對錦鯉的健康造成危害。
針對該行業的間諜活動已行之有二十年了─經驗老到且有組織性的幫派份子從事偷竊與毒害,在這類交易過程,已成了防不勝防的查緝漏洞。
但熟悉當地情況的人皆知,專業錦鯉蒐藏家最愛的卓越觀賞魚類,皆集中在法蘭德斯省,難怪竊賊總在這裡下手行竊─對於養殖者而言,則是束手無策的挑戰。
赫爾曼‧碧隆在其養殖的錦鯉,在本月於西法蘭德斯省聖尼古拉遭竊後,告訴法新社說:「他們從我的魚池內撈走五十尾魚,但我將再也看不到他們。」
他認為這些魚可能已展示於日本的餐廳內,而這些餐廳將無從得知魚兒的來歷。錦鯉的肉質被認為太乾而難以食用,但是布魯塞爾一間高檔餐廳La Table Du Dragon內,有至少六十尾錦鯉在店內展示,當法新社告訴該餐廳經理關於偷竊案時,他則感到錯愕。
(法新社/翻譯:林亞蒂)
Tangbao are one of the most internationally renowned delicacies, that win the hearts of both locals and tourists. Their charm lies in the paper-thin flour wrapper that needs to be folded evenly almost 20 times. Folding a tangbao requires skill to deal with a bulging filling and a thin wrapper. Tangbao are served in a bamboo steamer in which they are steamed, not only adding to the visual appearance, but ensuring they do not get cold before reaching the table. The best way to enjoy a tangbao is to dip it in a mixture of vinegar and soy sauce with
The Bank of Japan (BoJ) announced a seismic change in direction on March 19, hiking interest rates for the first time in 17 years. The move represents an unwinding of an ultra-loose — and maverick -- policy aimed at putting Japan’s “lost decades” of stagnation and deflation behind it. The last time the BoJ raised interest rates was in 2007, but its war against deflation began in earnest in 2013 under then-prime minister Shinzo Abe. “Abenomics” combined generous government spending and central bank monetary easing. The BoJ spent vast amounts on bonds and other assets to pump liquidity into the
Have you ever wished for an extra hour to prepare for exams or finish homework? In some countries, people actually adjust their clocks to gain or lose an hour, all for the sake of Daylight Saving Time (DST). Specifically, clocks are set forward by an hour in March and then set back in November. One of the primary reasons for implementing DST is to make better use of natural daylight so that people can reduce energy consumption. The concept originated with Benjamin Franklin in 1784 and became widely adopted during World War I. Today, this system is in place
A: Wow, YouTuber Xander 73’s channel “73_Tricking” now has over 10 million subscribers, making him Taiwan’s first 10-million YTR. B: Cool! But what’s “tricking?” A: Basically, it’s a sport derived from extreme martial arts. B: Xander 73’s income is as high as NT$600,000 per month. What’s the secret of his success? A: He often uses English catchphrases in his videos to attract more viewers from around the world. This shows how important English is. A: 哇,YouTuber奇軒的「奇軒Tricking」頻道訂閱突破千萬人, 成為台灣首位千萬YTR! B: 好厲害,但什麼是tricking啊? A: 聽說是極限武術所衍生的運動。 B: 奇軒月入60萬,成功的秘訣是什麼呢? A: 他常使用英文標語,所以能吸引全球觀眾,可見英文多重要。 (By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times/台北時報張聖恩)