According to scientists from the United States and Southeast Asia, the giant stingray was the largest freshwater fish ever recorded. It was caught in Cambodia’s Mekong River.
According to Wonders of the Mekong (a joint Cambodian-U.S. scientific project), the stingray measured nearly four meters (13 feet) from tail to snout and weighed in at just under 300 kilograms (660 lbs).
According to the group, the previous record for freshwater fish was a Mekong giant catfish of 293 kilograms (646 pound) that was found in Thailand in 2005.
A local fisherman in northeastern Cambodia snatched the stingray south of Stung Treng. A nearby team of scientists from the Wonders of the Mekong project was alerted by the fisherman, who has made public its conservation work in the communities along the river.
Within hours of receiving a post-midnight phone call, the scientists arrived at the scene and were stunned by what they saw.
“Yeah. When you see a fish that big, especially in freshwater it is difficult to understand, so I think all of us were stunned,” Wonders of the Mekong leader ZebHogan stated in an interview online from the University of Nevada, Reno. The university has partnered with USAID, the U.S. government’s international development agency, and the Cambodian Fisheries Administration.
According to freshwater fish, those fish that live in freshwater are those that have a continuous life. This is different from giant marine species like bluefin tuna or marlin.
He said that the stingray’s catch was more than just setting a new record.
Hogan stated that “the fact that fish can still get so big is a hopeful sign of the Mekong River,” pointing out that the waterway faces many environmental problems.
The Mekong River flows through China, Myanmar Laos Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and Thailand. Although it is home to many species of huge freshwater fish, environmental pressures are increasing. Scientists fear that a recent major dam-building program could seriously disrupt spawning grounds.
Globally, big fish are threatened. They’re high-value species. They take a long time for them to mature. Hogan stated that if the fish are fished before they reach maturity, they won’t be able to reproduce. Many of these large fish migrate, which means they require large areas to survive. Habitat fragmentation and overfishing are some of the factors that can impact them. Globally, 70% of giant freshwater fish are at risk of extinction. This includes all Mekong species.
The team who rushed to the spot placed a tag device near the tail of the giant fish. This will transmit tracking information for the following year and provide unprecedented data about the behavior of giant stingrays in Cambodia.
The giant stingray is an obscure fish. Hogan stated that the name of the giant stingray, as well as its scientific name has changed many times over the past 20 years. It is found all over Southeast Asia but we don’t have much information. Its life history is unknown. We don’t have any information about its ecology or its migration patterns.
Researchers claim it is the fourth giant stingray to be reported in the same area over the past two months. All of them are females. This may be a hot spot for the species to spawn.
Because of its round shape, and the fact that the moon was visible when the stingray was released on June 14, local residents called the stingray “Boramy” or “full moon.” The record-breaking fisherman received an honorable mention and a $600 payment.
According to the Mekong River Commission, the Mekong River is home to the third-most diverse fish populations in the world. Overfishing, pollution, and other factors have led to population declines.
Zeb Hogan, a biologist and former host of “Monster Fish” (National Geographic Channel), told Reuters that the catch was “very exciting news.”
It means that the Mekong stretch is still healthy. … He said that it was a sign of hope these large fish still live here.
