Thai Fishermen Land 664-Pound Mekong River Catfish

[hatrack]

GLAND, Switzerland, June 29, 2005 (ENS) - A Mekong giant catfish believed to be the world's largest freshwater fish has been caught in Chiang Khong, northern Thailand by local fishermen, says a WWF scientist studying giant freshwater fish in the Mekong River Basin. But with the fishing record comes a warning that Southeast Asia’s largest and rarest fish is critically endangered and disappearing fast.

The largest Mekong giant catfish, Pangasianodon gigas, in the record since 1981, the 292 kilogram (644 pound) fish was caught on May 1.

“I’m thrilled that we’ve set a record," said Dr. Zeb Hogan, WWF conservation science fellow, "but my excitement is tempered by the fact that these giant fish are poorly studied and critically endangered. Some, like the Mekong giant catfish, face extinction.” A century ago the Mekong giant catfish was found along the entire length of the river from Vietnam to southern China. Today, the population is in decline, scientists estimate the number has decreased by about 90 percent in the past 20 years.

Until recently, large individuals of this species were caught often in Thailand, particularly at Chiang Khong near their reported spawning grounds. At this traditional fishing spot, 30 of the enormous fish were caught in 1995, but only seven in 1997, and just two in 1998. Although a few of the giant fish have been caught in the last two seasons, none were captured there in the preceding three years."

EDIT

http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jun2005/2005-06-29-04.asp

[eleny]

1. Mee-YOW!