“This is very exciting news because it was the largest (freshwater) fish in the world,” said biologist Zeb Hogan, a former Monster Fish presenter on the National Geographic Channel and now part of the Wonders of the Mekong conservation program. . in the river. “It’s also exciting news because it means that this part of the Mekong is still healthy … It’s a sign of hope that these huge fish are still alive (here).” The Boramy was recorded last week off the coast of Koh Preah, an island along the northern part of the Cambodian River. He set the record for a 645-pound (293-pound) giant catfish caught upstream in northern Thailand in 2005. After a fisherman hooked the tick – an endangered species – he contacted the Wonders of the Mekong, which helped mark the ray and release it back into the river. The Mekong has the third most diverse fish population in the world, according to its River Commission – although overfishing, pollution, seawater infiltration and depletion of sediments have caused stocks to plummet. The Stingrays were particularly vulnerable to these changes, with mass deaths despite ongoing conservation measures, including fishing restrictions and river guards, according to the Wonders of the Mekong.
