Fishermen in Cambodia catch six endangered Mekong giant catfish
Posted on Dec 19, 2024 at 09:12 PM
Six critically endangered Mekong gigantic catfish species, one of the world's largest and rarest freshwater fish, were captured and released in Cambodia last week, reviving hopes for their survival.
Notably, the underwater giants have a maximum length of 3 meters and a maximum weight of 300 kg.
The species, originally residing in the entire 3,044-mile (4,900-kilometer) river from Vietnam to China's Yunnan region, is now confined to the Mekong River in southeast Asia.
The Mekong Giant Catfish's Status
Due to increased pressure from overfishing, dams that obstruct the fish's migratory route to breed, and other disturbances, the population has fallen by 80% in recent decades.
The Mekong is vital to millions of people's livelihoods, yet few have ever seen a big catfish. It is extraordinary that six of the giants were discovered in five days.
Moreover, two large catfish were freed near Phnom Penh, Cambodia, after receiving identifying tags. Four more large catfish were also seized, including two over two meters long and 120-131 kilogrammes. The fish were likely heading to breeding areas in northern Cambodia, Laos, or Thailand from their floodplain homes near Tonlé Sap Lake.
Dr. Zeb Hogan, a research biologist at the University of Nevada Reno, believes that the species is not at imminent risk of extinction, allowing time for conservation activities to continue promoting recovery and avoiding decline, as part of the US Agency for International Development-funded Wonders of the Mekong project.
Beyond the Catfish: The Mekong's Diverse Megafauna
Over the past two decades, a conservation program by Wonders of the Mekong and the Cambodian Fisheries Administration has successfully captured, tagged, and released around 100 giant catfish, providing valuable insights into their migration patterns, habitat, and overall health.
“This information is used to establish migration corridors and protect habitats to try to help these fish survive in the future,” according to Hogan.
Furthermore, the Mekong big catfish, depicted in 3,000-year-old cave paintings, is a symbol of the region's cultural fabric, mythology, and the river's $10 billion annual fisheries, which feed millions.
Local communities play a crucial role in conservation efforts, and fishermen are now aware of the importance of reporting unintentional captures of rare and endangered species, allowing researchers to visit and tag the fish.
In a statement, Heng Kong, the head of Cambodia's Inland Fisheries Research and Development Institute, stated, “Their cooperation is essential for our research and conservation efforts.”
The Mekong huge catfish is not the only enormous fish found in the river; the gigantic sting ray and the salmon carp, believed to be extinct until discovered earlier this year, are also found there.
Brian Eyler, head of the Stimson Center's Southeast Asia program in Washington, claimed that four fish were captured and tagged in a single day. This proves the strength of the yearly fish migration despite environmental stresses along the Mekong, making it the “big fish story of the century.”
Eventually, he hoped this event would demonstrate to the Mekong countries and the rest of the globe the need to conserve the region's powerful fish population.
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