Mekong giant catfish caught in Tonle Sap in the past. Zeb Hogan
The latest World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) report found that at least 1,148 fish species, or about 25 percent of the planet’s land fish, are found nowhere else on Earth but in the Mekong River.
In “The Mekong’s Forgotten Fishes”, released today, WWF explains that the Mekong is the largest inland fishery in the world. It supports at least 40 million people and is worth about $11 billion per year.
But the report added that 19 percent of the analyzed fish species are threatened with extinction, including mega and migratory species.
The Mekong is the third most biodiverse river, after the Amazon and the Congo.
This first-of-its-kind report celebrates the richness of species – from the world’s largest freshwater fish to one of its longest minutes, from those that “talk” or “walk”, to fish that spitting water to knock the unsuspecting victim into the river.
Giant freshwater stingray Mekong River in Cambodia. Elizabeth Everest for Wonders of the Mekong
The Mekong is also home to one of the largest migrations on Earth, in terms of animal numbers, with an estimated 5 billion fish moving each year.
The report said Mekong fish continue to be undervalued and ignored by decision makers. At least 19 percent of assessed species are now estimated to be headed for extinction, while 18 species are listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
“The alarming decline of fish populations in the Mekong is an urgent call for action to save these rare – and critically important – species, which underpin not only the region’s societies and economies but also the health of freshwater ecosystems of the Mekong,” said Lan Mercado, WWF Asia-Pacific Regional Director.
In recent years, Cambodia has been confirmed as home to several extremely rare examples of Mekong mega species, including catfish (Pangasianodon gigas) and Mekong giant bard (Catlocarpio siamensis).
The most impressive catch was the record-setting giant stingray (Urogymnus polylepis) discovered in Stung Treng province in June 2022. At 3.98m long and 2.2m wide, the 300kg specimen is the largest the researchers have measured.
The stingray is recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest freshwater fish ever recorded.
It was released back to its natural habitat, deep in the Mekong.
