To ensure their protection, two of the Kingdom’s monsters of the deep, the giant freshwater stingray and the giant salmon carp, are being considered for inclusion on a government list of endangered aquatic species.

The Fisheries Administration (FiA) and relevant government institutions are currently preparing the documents required to formally request that they be added to the list, alongside the 58 species already included.

The request follows the rediscovery of the two species in the Cambodian part of the Mekong River, explained Ouk Vibol, director of the FiA’s fisheries conservation department, on March 20.

“The giant stingray is extremely rare, so we must include it for urgent protection,” he said.

The exact number of giant stingrays in the Kingdom remains unknown. Through consultation meetings, experts believe that there may be two or three deep pools in Stung Treng province where the species still exists.

“Its population is extremely low. We are seriously concerned and need to take urgent action,” Vibol added.

An example of the giant salmon carp was caught in Stung Treng province in 2022 after being unseen for 20 years. Wonders of the Mekong

The 58 fish species currently listed under Sub-Decree No. 123, issued in August 2009, include 29 freshwater species and 29 marine species. The FiA has produced informational posters about these species to raise awareness and promote conservation efforts among local communities across the country.

The giant freshwater stingray (urogymnus polylepis) was classified as globally endangered on the IUCN Red List in 2021.

An example of the species, discovered in Cambodia in 2022 and named Boramy, was recorded in the Guinness World Records as the world's largest freshwater fish, at 300 kilogrammes.

On March 19, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) noted that despite its global recognition, the giant stingray had not yet been officially included in Cambodia’s endangered aquatic species list.

“The FiA is preparing documents to request the Cambodian government to include this species in the endangered aquatic species list. This legal recognition is crucial for its protection, management and long-term conservation,” it stated.

To support conservation efforts, WCS Cambodia worked with the FiA to organise consultation workshops in Stung Treng and Kratie provinces on March 13-14.

The workshops focused on gathering data to support the proposal to include the giant stingray on the endangered species list.

The workshops were an opportunity to collect input from relevant stakeholders with knowledge and experience regarding the species, including its population status, habitat and threats. Discussions also covered key strategies for restoring the species' population.

The other species earmarked for inclusion is the giant salmon carp (Aaptosyax grypus). An example of the species was caught by fishermen in Stung Treng province in 2022 after being unseen for some two decades.

The species has been classified as near-extinct due to population decline caused by overfishing and habitat loss.

Vibol explained that the decision to add a species to the endangered list depends on factors such as its natural population and reproductive cycle. If the population in the wild has declined sharply, temporary protection measures are necessary.

However, he noted that if populations recover over time, they could be removed from the list.

Some species have very low reproductive rates, making them more vulnerable to extinction. Certain species, like the giant stingray and giant barb, take up to seven years to reach maturity and reproduce.

“This means that if we catch them at the age of one or two years, we are cutting off their life cycle, unlike fast-breeding fish, which reproduce every 6-8 months. Long-lived species are at much higher risk, and we must protect them,” added Vibol.

The inclusion of the new species is expected to take place after a new Fisheries Law is officially enacted. Currently, the draft law is under review and consultation at the National Assembly.