THAI fishermen netted what is thought to be the world’s biggest freshwater fish, a 292kg (644 pound) Mekong giant catfish, in the Mekong River, northern Thailand.
The conservation organization, WWF hopes the catch will highlight the plight of the Mekong giant catfish, which is a critically endangered species. It is Southeast Asia’s largest and rarest fish, and is one of a number of giant fish species under investigation in a WWF and National Geographic Society (NGS) joint conservation project. A century ago the Mekong giant catfish was found 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.
Jamie Pittock, head of the WWF’s Global Freshwater Programme said: “This catfish is as heavy as a grizzly bear. It’s amazing to think that giants like this still swim in some of the world’s rivers. This amazing species could be gone within the next few years if nothing is done to save it.”
www.fishupdate.com is published by Special Publications. Special Publications also publish European Fish Trader, Fishing Monthly, Fish Farming Today, Fish Farmer, the Fish Industry Yearbook, the Scottish Seafood Processors Federation Diary, the Fish Farmer Handbook and a range of wallplanners.
Should people be 'stimulated' to eat white fish alternatives to cod?
