Friday February 13, 2026
Kiripost —
The net is closing in on the illegal fishing trade, with 34 endangered fish species that were rescued from private ponds, as well as accidental catches, released into their natural habitat. However, experts warn that the illegal fish trade to wet markets and neighbouring countries, coupled with environmental pressures, continue to threaten rare Mekong species.
According to Wonders of the Mekong, on February 6 and 7, a group of international scientists from the USA and research teams from Cambodia and Singapore released 34 rare fish species into the Mekong River. They had been rescued throughout 2025 from private land and pond sales, as well as endangered fish accidentally caught by fishermen.