A Giant Mekong Catfish (Pangasianodon gigas) weighing 132 kilogrammes and measuring over 2.2 metres in length was recently released back into its natural habitat after being caught by a fisher in Phnom Penh’s Chroy Changvar district. FiA
A fisheries official has stressed the importance of protecting rare fish species and egg-laden fish, noting that a single egg-bearing fish can produce between 600,000 and one million offspring.
He warned that consuming or harming such fish, especially rare species like the Giant Mekong Catfish (Pangasianodon gigas), causes a significant loss to the nation's aquatic resources.
The statement was made during the opening of the fishing season, citing a study by the Inland Fisheries Research and Development Institute (IFReDI) of the Fisheries Administration (FiA) under the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. It formed part of an educational campaign urging people, particularly fishers, to release rare or endangered fish – especially those carrying eggs – back into the wild.
Thach Panara, head of the laboratory at IFReDI, highlighted the importance of conserving rare fish species during a recent ceremony in Phnom Penh’s Chroy Changvar district. The event marked the release of a Giant Mekong Catfish weighing 132 kilogrammes and measuring over 2.2 metres in length.
"When we eat one fish carrying eggs, it’s like eating a million fish. So please, refrain from catching fish during the spawning season,” he said.
“Allow them to reproduce, and fish responsibly during the open season. Avoid using illegal fishing tools, such as fine-mesh nets or electric shock devices," he added.
Panara noted that FiA officers conduct regular awareness campaigns with fishers along the Tonle Sap during the open fishing season, which begins on October 1 each year. These initiatives encourage fishers to release rare or egg-laden fish back into natural waterways.
He appealed to the public, “If you catch such fish, hand them over to the FiA for tagging and subsequent release back into the wild, ensuring these species can reproduce for future generations. The Giant Mekong Catfish is the largest species of fish in the Mekong River.”
According to the FiA, these campaigns have led to a noticeable increase in public awareness and participation in conservation.
Pum Sotha, government delegate and head of the FiA, noted a growing shift in public attitudes, with more citizens cooperating with authorities.
He said that people now report illegal fishing activities and contribute to sustainability efforts by releasing rare fish into their natural habitats.
“It’s a positive change to see people reporting illegal activities. More importantly, they are now catching and releasing rare fish to protect endangered species,” he said.
The catfish referenced earlier was accidentally caught on December 6 by a fisher at Fishing Lot 3A in Phnom Penh’s Chroy Changvar district. The fish was later released into the wild by IFReDI in collaboration with the Wonders of the Mekong project after Ly Sary, the owner of Lot 3A, contacted FiA officials. Four other giant catfish were released on December 10.
“If you catch rare fish, please contact the FiA to help release them and preserve these species so they can thrive like they once did,” said Sary, who has been in the fishing business for nearly 20 years, continuing a family legacy dating back to the Sangkum Reastr Niyum era.
According to the FiA, 58 fish species are currently listed as endangered, including 29 saltwater and 29 freshwater species.
