European perch can vary greatly in size between bodies of water. Perch can live for up to 22 years, and older perch are often much larger than average; the maximum recorded length is 60 cm (24 in). The British record is 2.8 kg (6 lb 2 oz), but they grow larger in mainland Europe than in Britain. As at Aug 2012 the official all tackle world record, as recognised by the International Game Fish Association or IGFA stands at 2.9 kg (6 lb 6 oz) for a Finnish fish. Due to the low salinity levels of the Baltic, especially around the Finnish archipelago and Bothnian Sea, many freshwater fish live and thrive there. The Perch especially are in abundance and grow to a considerable size due to the diet of Baltic Herring.