National and regional conservationists have released 34 fish — including critically endangered and rare species — into the Mekong River near Koh Oknha Tey and in front of the Royal Palace in recent days, noting that the release was part of preserving natural heritage for future generations.
The Wonders of the Mekong organisation announced on February 11, that the fish were sourced from a private pond which was being sold by its owner, as well as small juvenile Isok barb​ and two giant barb that had been caught by dai fisheries during the 2025–2026 season.
The 34 fish, each tagged before release, included two Mekong giant catfish (10–30 kg), 10 giant barb (7–20 kg), 19 juvenile and adult isok barb (0.3–6 kg), one striped catfish (approximately 4.5 kg), one wallago attu (approximately 13 kg) and one wallago leerii (approximately 3.5 kg).
They were released by Zeb Hogan, project lead of the Wonders of the Mekong project from the University of Nevada in the US, along with representatives of the Inland Fisheries Research and Development Institute (IFReDI) of the Cambodia Fisheries Administration, the Faculty of Fisheries and Aquaculture at the Royal University of Agriculture (RUA), representatives from the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum of the National University of Singapore and local fishermen.
The Wonders of the Mekong project team and the Fisheries Administration thanked the members of the fishing community and the other generous individuals who contributed to protecting these rare species, helping ensure that Cambodia’s aquatic biodiversity remains a natural heritage treasure for future generations.
On December 29, 2025, a Mekong giant catfish weighing 30 kg and measuring 148 cm was caught in the Mekong River by a fisherman in Tbong Khmum province was handed over to the Tbong Khmum Fisheries Administration. In cooperation with the Inland Fisheries Research and Development Institute and the Wonders of the Mekong project, the team tagged the fish and released it into its natural habitat.
On January 15, another Mekong giant catfish, weighing 63 kg and measuring 176 cm, was caught in the same province. It was also tagged and released.
The Mekong giant catfish is considered the “king of freshwater fish” and can grow to a maximum weight of 300 kg and a length of up to 300 cm. The species is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
