Pdf fish diversity in the mekong river basin kent hortle. The fish, which grows to 650 pounds and about 10 feet long, is only found in the mekong river. Giant mekong catfish pangasianodon gigas megafishingthailand. There are freshwater fish species of up to 300 or even 500kg in weight. A fish of up to 500kg, 5m and 60yearold was netted in the river. A member of the shark catfish family which reaches enormous proportions. Mekong river basin is one of the worlds fish biodiversity hotspots.
Mar 15, 2021 it recorded that cambodian people currently get around 16 percent of their animal protein and 28 percent of their lysine from freshwater fish from the mekong river basin. These groups include sharks, batoid fishes and bony fishes. During the wet season, the mekong floods forests and grasslands. Worlds forgotten fish species vital for hundreds of. Apr 04, 2021 on the sidelines of the third conference on climate resilient and sustainable development of the mekong delta held in can tho city last week, deputy minister of agriculture and rural development le minh hoan noted that after three years of implementation of resolution 120, many living with nature farming models in the freshwater, brackish. This native thai fish species is currently recognized by the guinness book of records as the largest freshwater fish species on earth.
The report acknowledges the mekong river as one of the worlds most productive inland fisheries with over 1,100 species of fish. Mar 04, 2021 freshwater fish matter to the health of people and the freshwater ecosystems that all people and all life on land depend on. Photos of common fishes in the lower mekong photos of common. See all formats and editions hide other formats and editions. The mekong river is also the most productive inland fishery in the world.
Dec 16, 2019 of the 692 extant freshwater fish species known to occur in the lower mekong basin, 68 10% are globally threatened with extinction and a further 22 3% are near threatened, the mrc noted in. The giant freshwater stingray in thailand is the largest freshwater fish on the planet reaching weights approaching lbs. For any angler wishing to take up the challenge of fishing for the most powerful, most enormous freshwater fish, book a guided fishing tour with the fish thailand team to bungsamlan. This fish photo book is a key tool for fish abundance and diversity monitoring of mekong fisheries. The mekong river is unique in its fish abundance, density of fisheries and share of migratory fish, says eric baran, a senior scientist at worldfish and lead author of the book which aims to provide planning tools for the sustainable development of dams for countries located on the mekong. Pdf photos of common fishes species in the lower mekong. With over 1,100 species of fish, the mekong river is one of the worlds most productive inland fisheries. Mar 04, 2021 with over 1,100 species of fish, the mekong river is one of the worlds most productive inland fisheries. This book became available by the supports from local fishermen, local.
This book is a first attempt to inventory the fish fauna of the mekong river drainage from its headwaters in tibet to its mouth and beyond in southern vietnam. Aug 02, 2009 3 it should be noted that freshwater species have been defined by some authors as only those within primary freshwater families, i. It also says that freshwater fish at risk from the introduction of invasive nonnative species and the impacts of climate change as well as unsustainable sand mining and wildlife crime. Worlds forgotten fish species vital for hundreds of millions. Fish species diversity and endemism 163 otophysan fishes, which include the cypriniformes carps, barbs, minnows, and loaches about 80 spp. In its native only to the mekong river that runs through china. The mekong giant catfish currently holds the guinness book of world records position for the worlds largest freshwater fish. The fish likely obtains its food from algae growing on submerged rocky surfaces, as it does not have any sort of dentition. Fishes of the cambodian mekong fao species identification. Fishes of the greater mekong ecosystem with species list and photographic atlas lists and illustrates all 2541 species of fishes known to occur within the greater mekong ecosystem and includes an overview of basin geology and. In spite of my being a regular visitor to vietnam for over 6 years, i am yet to find any offerings for organised fishing trips in the mekong delta.
Jun 29, 2005 this mekong giant catfish was weighed at 646 pounds by researchers working on a project to identify, study and conserve large freshwater fish around the world. This field guide includes approximately 500 species of present or potential interest to, or likely to be encountered in, fisheries in the cambodian mekong. Mekong giant fish species, with participants from the four riparian countries. Besides the diversity of fish and mollusks, the mekong is best known for a number of threatened large.
Buy fishes of the cambodian mekong fao species identification field. Jul 31, 2020 in june of this year, the faos annual state of world fisheries and aquaculture report ranked the mekong basin as the worlds most productive freshwater fishery, accounting for over 15% of global. Attaining an unconfirmed length of 3 m, the mekong giant catfish grows extremely quickly, reaching a mass of 150 to 200 kg in six years. This field guide features the freshwater and brakish water fishes of the vietnamese mekong region and covers 77 familiers and 322 species of both commercial and noncommercial fihses. Jun 25, 2020 by taking submissions and publishing data from other record books too, world records freshwater fishing has compiled information on 507 different species of freshwater fish, each weighing at least. Fishes of the cambodian mekong food and agriculture. The mekong river commission and the cambodia department of fisheries administered this danida. The book is divided into neat chapters on gear, rigging, and the common types of freshwater fish found in north american lakes and streams. Cambodian people currently get around 16 per cent of their animal. Scientists have only known this fish since 1930 when it was discovered at a fish market in phnom penh cambodia and so far there has not been much research on fish. This mekong giant catfish was weighed at 646 pounds by researchers working on a project to identify, study and conserve large freshwater fish around the world. Dec 27, 2012 it is a global hotspot for freshwater fishes. This book became available by the supports from local fishermen, local officers, and can tho university and the financial support from the japan fund for global environment of the environmental restoration and. At this venue we guarantee you catch a 30lb plus giant mekong catfish in a.
The giant mekong catfish is the biggest catfish of the very widespread catfish species and also the largest freshwater fish ever recorded. With extreme seasonal variations in flow and many treacherous rapids and waterfalls, the potential for undisturbed tropical habitats is unparallelled. Rainboth, food and agriculture organization of the united nations. Mekong giant catfish pangasianodon gigas freshwater fish. The giant freshwater stingray inhabits some of the wildest waters on earth including the mekong, maeklong and bang pakong rivers. In its native only to the mekong river that runs through china, laos, thailand, cambodia and vietnam. Fishes of the cambodian mekong paperback may 1 1997 by walter j.
Checklist of the freshwater fishes of africa, volume 1 catalogue des poissons deau douce dafrique, cloffa 1. The illustrations are vouchers for the species listed and can help identification of any species encountered in the basin, whether from fishermans net or market. Beautiful mekong river is the living place of many unique freshwater species in the world. However, the fish s migration does not begin there. Photos of common fishes in the lower mekong photos of. Fishes of the greater mekong ecosystem with species list and. Fishes of the cambodian mekong fao species identification field.
This species pangasianodon gigas, which grows as fast as a bull and looks a bit like a refrigerator, can measure 3 meters in length and weigh up to 300 kilograms. I am specifically looking to go fishing for those giant mekong catfish that reach weights over 300 kilograms and over 2 metres in length. Giant mekong catfish pangasianodon gigas thai freshwater fish. Fishes of the cambodian mekong fao species identification field guidespaperback december 30, 1996.
This book became available by the supports from local fishermen, lo. Water free fulltext cambodian freshwater fish assemblage. Mekong giant catfish pangasianodon gigas freshwater fish of. Mekong basins vanishing fish signal tough times ahead in. Oct 02, 2020 join wild chronicles along the mekong river in cambodia where national geographic emerging explorer zeb hogan races against time to save the critically endangered giant catfish. This field guide covers the major resource groups likely to be encountered in the fisheries of the cambodian mekong. Cambodian people currently get around 16 percent of their animal protein and 28 percent. Between these two extremes, a new database developed by the mekong river commission has 923 species. According to the guinness book of records, a ninefootlong individual.
Hobbyists can now find all they need to know about the most popular fishes kept in freshwater aquariums in one magnificent book. Fishes of the greater mekong ecosystem with species list. Mekong river fish migrations feed millions, but is it. The introduction outlines the geographical, environmental and ecological factors influencing fisheries, and the basic components of the fisheries of the cambodian mekong. Among the fish populations that could be harmed by the xayaburi dam in laos is the critically endangered mekong giant catfish, considered by the guinness book of world records to be the worlds largest freshwater fish. The best mekong catfish fish thailand guides have guided our clients into 90 kg 198lb. Field guide to the freshwater fishes of tanzania eccles, 1992. The book is comprised of five sections, with the second the annotated checklist of fish species and the fifth the photographic atlas being of greatest interest to aquarists. Profusely illustrated in color throughout, this practical and engaging encyclopedia will satisfy the curiosity of beginner and advanced. The mekong giant catfish once held the guinness world records position for the worlds largest freshwater fish in 2005.
Cited in the guinness book of records as largest freshwater fish foot 2000. This book became available by the supports from local fishermen, local officers, and can tho university and the financial support from the japan fund for global environment of the environmental restoration and conservation agency. Weighing in at more than 600 pounds, these behemoths may be the worlds largest freshwater fish. Billions of fish make an annual trek through the rivers of southeast asia, supporting millions of people. Three megafish species imperiled by laos mekong river dam. Sep 10, 2011 the guinness book of world records lists the mekong giant catfish as earths largest freshwater fish. The mekong giant catfish is the official freshwater heavyweight champion of the world.
Profusely illustrated in color throughout, this practical and engaging. Mekong giant catfish, facts and photos national geographic. The mekong fish database developed by the mekong river commission provides the most comprehensive data source on mekong fishes, although it does not include any information on species from areas. It has been prepared in close collaboration between the mrc fisheries programme and the fisheries national line agencies of mrc member countries, namely. Freshwater fish species in thailands rivers and stillwaters. Freshwater fish species in mekong river southeast asia the tables below were generated from a project to provide indexing and links for all known species as the baseline dataset for studies of global biodiversity. This field guide features the freshwater and brakish water fishes of the vietnamese mekong region and.
It also includes species expected to occur in cambodia which have been recorded from, or found by the author. Come fishing in thailand with fishsiam guided tours. Pdf this fish photo book is a key tool for fish abundance and. Fisheries of the cambodian mekong are characterized by high diversity and productivity. Report stresses perils of forgotten fish phnom penh post. But walter rainboth, another taxonomist who is compiling an atlas of fish in the mekong, lists more than 2,000. The complete guide to freshwater fishing the freshwater. Field guide to fishes of the mekong delta nhbs field guides. Fishes of the cambodian mekong covers the major resource groups likely to be ecountered in the fisheries of the cambodian mekong. Fish for some of the largest freshwater fish in the world such as giant freshwater stingrays, mekong catfish and giant siamese carp which are all native to thailand and attain world recordbreaking size. According to the guinness book of records, a ninefootlong individual caught in northern thailand in 2005. Giant fish species of the mekong river in pictures news.
Field guide to fishes of the cambodian freshwater bodies. This covers all species historically recorded from cambodian reaches of the mekong as well as numerous new records by the author. The mekong fish database developed by the mekong river commission provides the most comprehensive data source on mekong fishes, although it does. The nandid perch or malaysian leaffish is one of the smaller thailand freshwater fish species to be found in thailand which is also known as the malaysian leaf fish nile tilapia the nile tilapia is a member of the perciformes perchlike fishes order of fish originating from the african subcontinent in rwanda and uganda which has been extensively farmed in thailand in aquaculture and stocked into. Nhbs mekong river commission, jeremy bird, huayu nature book trade co. The species is one of the worlds largest freshwater fish, measuring up to three meters in length and weighing in excess of 300 kg smith 1945, roberts and vidthayanon 1991. Enormous fish make one of the worlds largest migrations. Fishes of the greater mekong ecosystem with species list and photographic atlas lists and illustrates all 2541 species of fishes known to occur within the greater mekong ecosystem and includes an overview of basin geology and biogeography. Aug 28, 2019 beautiful mekong river is the living place of many unique freshwater species in the world. The fish, which grows to 650 pounds and about 10 feet long, is only found in the mekong.
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