What Is the Mekong Giant Catfish?

Mainly living in the lower half of the Mekong River system in Southeast Asia, the Mekong giant catfish is the world's largest scaleless freshwater fish and can reach 10 feet in length and 650 lbs. in weight. Since this once plentiful fish is critically endangered, it is illegal to harvest the fish in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia.

  1. Habitat

    • The Mekong giant catfish is native to the Mekong River. Currently the fish is only found in the mainstream of the lower Mekong River in Myanmar, the Laos People's Democratic Republic, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, although in the past it was also found farther north. The catfish requires long sections of river for seasonal journeys upstream to spawn.

    Appearance

    • The fish is toothless with low-set eyes. They are silver to dark gray on their backs and white to yellow on their bellies. Fish that have yet to reach maturity have typical catfish whiskers, called barbels, but they become less noticeable as the fish age.

    Behavior

    • The Mekong giant catfish is a migratory fish that travels up and down rivers to breed. The species is thought to nurture its young in Cambodia's Tonle Sap Lake and migrates hundreds of miles north to spawn in Thailand, says National Geographic. Adult fish are herbivores and live off plants and algae.

    Threats

    • According to the World Wildlife Federation, the Mekong giant catfish is threatened by overfishing, habitat destruction and dams that obstruct migration routes, reducing breeding opportunities for some populations. While overfishing is cited by National Geographic as the primary cause of decline, navigation projects, or projects to improve boats and vessels' ability to navigate the river, and pollution resulting from these projects have played a part as well, in some cases destroying the species' spawning grounds.

    Conservation Efforts

    • It is illegal to harvest the fish in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, but fishing regulations are difficult to enforce in isolated areas. Despite the high prices the Mekong giant catfish attracts in Thailand because it is said to bring good luck, in 2006 Thai fisherman promised to stop catching Mekong giant catfish to celebrate the 60th anniversary of their king's acsension to the throne and were paid $500 for every giant catfish net they surrendered. The World Wildlife Federation and National Geographic collaborate in a captive-bred release program where adult, captive-bred Mekong catfish are released into the wild.