GIANT CATFISH RELEASED IN THE MEKONG

Environmental Panorama
Phnom Penh - Cambodia
June of 2005

 

15/06/2005 – Four adult Mekong giant catfish were released to the wild at the junction of the Tonle Sap and Mekong Rivers, representing an important boost to catfish numbers in the Mekong Basin.
WWF International Director General Dr Claude Martin, Director General, and Cambodian Fisheries Minister Dr Chan Sarun presided over the release ceremony near the Royal Palace in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, close to where the fish were originally captured from the wild seven years ago.

The catfish, each weighing between 45-50kg and measuring around 1.5m in length, were raised in a pond after being havested from the wild as tiny fry.

"The addition of four adult fish to the breeding population of a species, where only around 5–10 similar-sized individuals are caught each year in Cambodia, represents a significant contribution to the continued survival of this species in the wild,” said Dr Martin.

A century ago, Mekong giant catfish (Pangasianodon gigas) were found in relative abundance throughout their range in the Mekong and other major river tributaries from Vietnam to southern China. Since then populations have plummeted due dam consruction on many of the rivers, which block migration routes and isolate some populations. Overfishing has destroyed critical spawning grounds and has led to depleted fish stocks. Scientists estimate that the total number of Mekong giant catfish has decreased by about 90 per cent in just the past two decades alone.

"The Department of Fisheries has collaborated with several organizations to release and tag many catfish to better understand their migration routes.”

"We want to keep the fish alive and return them to the wild," said Minister Chan Sarun.

The pond-raised catfish have been fitted with tags prior to their release to alert fishermen who catch them accidentally of their protected status.

After spending so much of their life in captivity, it is not known if these fish have retained their natural instincts to migrate and spawn. There is a chance that they will fail to adapt to life in the river at all.

"Subsequent capture and release may demonstrate that the fish have not only been able to survive, but have also managed to retain their instinct to migrate and to reproduce," Dr Martin added.

Ing Vannath, the fish farmer who caught and reared the released fish in his ponds, was onhand at the release ceremony to see them off.

“I wish to repay the favour to these gigantic fish by returning them to their natural habitat and to allow them the chance to swim freely and help maintain the dwindling wild population of this unique Mekong species.”

END NOTES:

• The Mekong giant catfish is listed by The Guinness Book of World Records as the Earth's largest freshwater fish. Reaching a maximum size of three metres in length and 300kg, the species is unique to the Mekong River.

• The Mekong is one of the worlds few relatively free-flowing large rivers with an intact floodplain and is attributed as the major factor in maintaining the basin’s tremendous biodiversity and productive fisheries, estimated to be worth over US$1.4 billion annually. The consevation of Mekong giant catfish, a flagship species of the WWF Living Mekong Programme, will help safeguard the livelihoods of the millions of people who depend on healthy productive fisheries in the river basin.

• Until recently, large individuals of the species were caught in significant numbers in Thailand, particularly at Chiang Kong in the vicinity of reported spawning grounds. Although a few fish have been caught in the last two seasons, the numbers have dropped off dramatically with no individuals captured there in the preceding three years. In Cambodia, small numbers are still caught in the stationary bagnet (or dai) fisheries every year.

• WWF’s Living Mekong Programme works with governmental and non-governmental partners across Mekong Basin, and holds maintaining the large-scale integrity of the basin as its central long term goal.

 
 

Source: WWF – World Wildlife Foundation International (http://www.wwf.org)
Press consultantship (Rob Shore, Seng Teak and Lic Vuthy)
All rights reserved

 
 
 
 

 

Universo Ambiental  
 
 
 
 
     
VEJA
NOTÍCIAS AMBIENTAIS
DIVERSAS
Acesse notícias variadas e matérias exclusivas sobre diversos assuntos socioambientais.

 
 
 
 
Conheça
Conteúdo
Participe
     
Veja as perguntas frequentes sobre a Agência Ecologia e como você pode navegar pelo nosso conteúdo.
Veja o que você encontrará no acervo da Agência Ecologia. Acesse matérias, artigos e muito mais.
Veja como você pode participar da manutenção da Agência Ecologia e da produção de conteúdo socioambiental gratuito.
             
 
 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
     
ACESSE O UNIVERSO AMBIENTAL
DE NOTÍCIAS
Veja o acervo de notícias e matérias especiais sobre diversos temas ambientais.

 
 
 
 
Compromissos
Fale Conosco
Pesquise
     
Conheça nosso compromisso com o jornalismo socioambiental independente. Veja as regras de utilização das informações.
Entre em contato com a Agência Ecologia. Tire suas dúvidas e saiba como você pode apoiar nosso trabalho.
A Agência Ecologia disponibiliza um banco de informações ambientais com mais de 45 mil páginas de conteúdo online gratuito.
             
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Agência Ecologia
     
DESTAQUES EXPLORE +
SIGA-NOS
 

 

 
Agência Ecologia
Biodiversidade Notícias Socioambientais
Florestas Universo Ambiental
Avifauna Sobre Nós
Oceano Busca na Plataforma
Heimdall Contato
Odin Thor
  Loki
   
 
Direitos reservados. Agência Ecologia 2024-2025. Agência Ambiental Pick-upau 1999-2025.