Wednesday June 8, 2022
Khmer Times —
Researchers and officials from the Wonders of the Mekong said that the Cambodia’s Upper Mekong River system is likely the last surviving natural habitat for the endangered Pangasianodon hypophthalmus or iridescent shark.
The iridescent shark or iridescent shark catfish is native to the rivers of Southeast Asia and is endangered. Despite being endangered, the number of the population is unknown. Wonders of the Mekong stated that the species is important to the Mekong and fishing of the fish is an important commercial activity.
A new study supported by the Mekong River Miracle Project recently recorded a decrease in the size and population of the fish by analysing information from long-term fishing and tracking of juvenile fish in the Mekong and Tonle Sap over the last two decades. Total annual catch decreased from 236,952 kg in the 2000-2001 fishing season to 7,293 kg in the 2017-2018 fishing season.
The average body length of the species has decreased from 31 cm in 2001 to 13 cm in 2019. Large numbers of juveniles also declined during this period and was found to be associated with overfishing of the species.