At least five near-extinct fish species have been handed over by local fishers to fisheries officers and partner organisations for release back into their natural habitats over the past two weeks. This reflects growing awareness nationwide about participating in the conservation of natural resources.
The Siem Reap Provincial Fisheries Administration reported that Chhe Youhak, 37, owner of a fish-trap at Chroy Metrey in Chong Khneas commune, Siem Reap, caught a giant catfish and notified the provincial fisheries office on November 25. The fish weighed 95 kilogrammes and measured 216 centimetres in length.
The provincial fisheries office, together with the Northern Tonle Sap Lake Fisheries Administration Inspectorate, the Freshwater Fisheries Research and Development Institute, the Wonders of the Mekong and the fisherman’s family, tagged the large female and released it back into the Tonle Sap Lake — a natural refuge near the former Lot 4 fisheries conservation area in Siem Reap province.
The fisheries office stated that the release of these near-extinct fish occurred after fishers learned more about the importance of Cambodia’s rare and endangered species, both to the Kingdom and the world.
The Fisheries Administration, under the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, issued a letter of appreciation to Youhak, describing his action as “a valuable and exemplary contribution to the protection and conservation of endangered fish species, ensuring their continued presence in natural waters for future generations”.
The Wonders of the Mekong NGO noted that the voluntary reporting of the catch came three months after the project launched an awareness campaign about endangered species in the region. It also demonstrated strong cooperation among fishing communities, the Siem Reap Fisheries Administration, the Freshwater Fisheries Research and Development Institute, and the Wonders of the Mekong team.
On the evening of November 21, the Wonders of the Mekong team received a report from a fisherman about catching an Isok Barb along the Tonle Sap River in Phnom Penh. The fish weighed 3.5 kilogrammes and measured 60 centimetres. The team immediately went to tag and release the fish back into the river.
On November 18, in cooperation with the Freshwater Fisheries Research and Development Institute, the project tagged and released two giant barb and one Isok Barb. The two giant barb weighed between 12 and 16 kilogrammes each, while the Isok Barb weighed 2 kilogrammes.
It expressed gratitude to the owners of the Dai 2D fishing area and the labourers on the boats who contacted the Fisheries Administration to release the endangered fish safely back into their original habitats.
“Please help protect all endangered species — including the Mekong giant catfish, Mekong giant barb, giant freshwater stingray, Isok barb, Passanak and many others. Protecting rare fish species today means safeguarding the Mekong River’s ecosystem for future generations,” it added.
In 2009, the Royal Government of Cambodia issued Sub-Decree No. 123, listing 58 fish species as endangered and prohibiting their fishing and trade.
