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Global Efforts To Protect Endangered Freshwater Giants
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by A. Tran | February 28, 2009 at 01:16 pm
1303 views | 72 Recommendations | 15 comments
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Global Efforts To Protect Endangered Freshwater Giants | Photo 02
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The National Geographic Society is collaborating with the World Wildlife Fund by launching the MegaFishes Project, an ambitious four-year effort to protect the Earth’s largest freshwater fish, while raising awareness about the ecological status of the world’s rivers.
The MegaFishes Project spans six continents that included expeditions to study 14 of the most diverse freshwater systems that are listed by the World Heritage Sites and the United Nations Environment Program Biodiversity Hotspots.
Over the years, the unprecedented use of freshwater, over-fishing, and human-made pollution have led to a declining population of numerous aquatic species, especially, the freshwater giants that are disappearing at an alarming rate. To these international scientists, it is a race against the clock to protect and document these vulnerable species.
One of the largest rivers in the world, the Mekong Delta has yielded the most spectacular studies about some freshwater giants, such as the Giant Mekong Catfish. A photo of the map of Southeast Asia that shows the Mekong Delta flowing through the following countries: Viet Nam, Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand.
Apparently, scientists were surprised to discover that the Giant Mekong catfish spent part of their lives at sea, which debunked the common notion that catfish were slow and lumbering bottom-feeders.
Scientists have recorded Pangasius gigas traveling as much as 600 miles (1000 km) inland from the south China sea up the Mekong River to spawn.
The recent discovery that Mekong catfish are anadromous, moving from coastal waters into fresh waters to spawn, has surprised even scientist's long-held notions of freshwater species. It may be that many other species of catfish also have similar migration habits, and that other species of freshwater fish may be found living part of their lives at sea. It certainly gives new meaning to the concept of "freshwater fish", if they spend part of their lives living in the salty waters of a marine environment.
Earlier this month, on Feb. 19, the Megafishes.org website reported that one these giants was caught Vientiane, Laos.
An estimated 250kg giant catfish (Pangasianodon gigus) was caught in Salao village, Phonthong district, Champassak province, on Saturday night at 11pm by a local fisherman, provincial authorities confirmed on Wednesday.
Witnesses said the endangered Giant Catfish (paa beuk) was sold to traders in Champassak province. According to witnesses, it was loaded onto a bus bound for Vientiane on Sunday but its whereabouts are currently unknown. At this stage it cannot be confirmed whether the fish arrived in the capital.
The MegaFishes Project has evidently made some educational inroads with the local population regarding the conservation of the Giant Catfish.
Fishery experts said the giant catfish is listed as critically endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. It is likely to face extinction if comprehensive protective measures are not taken.
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Office Head, Dr Bounthong Bouahom, said the Laos law on Wildlife and Aquatic Species explicitly bans the catching or trade of paa beuk in an attempt to protect it.
Other freshwater giants are also found living in the Amazon River, the Arapaima and huge freshwater stingrays. Another little known species called, the giant Chinese paddlefish, also seems to be rapidly disappearing.
The MegaFishes Project also hopes to educate and raise awareness among the local, national, and global communities on the importance of freshwater conservation, which included freshwater science. Education is key to the success of this program.
See the National Geographic Photo Gallery of Giant Fishes here and
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A. Tran
New York, New York, United States
Most Recommended Stories in Environment
Recommendations (72)
eastvanray
vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Uwe Paschen
Narita, Chiba, Japan
Barry ORegan
Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Karen Hatter
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
mtammas
Vancouver, Canada
zeet
New York, New York, United States
EPDaily
New York, New York, United States
Jordan Yerman
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
rumana husain
Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Rachel Nixon
Vancouver, Canada
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (15)
at 13:54 on February 28th, 2009
This is so important and needed - those fish in the photos are just huge!!
at 15:32 on February 28th, 2009
Thank you, Amy, for your recommendation. As I mentioned above, I've always followed the developing status of these freshwater giants over the years since listening to many stories about them from my parents and relatives.
It's important that the public is educated and spread the words about these freshwater giants in the Mekong Delta, Southeast Asia.
at 15:29 on February 28th, 2009
BC has some of the best fishing in the world, where Giant Salmon close to 80 pounds and Halibut reaching 150 pounds are not rare!
at 20:50 on February 28th, 2009
Thanks for your input about Canada's sports-fishing.
To many exceptionally well trained scientists, the freshwater giants in the Mekong Delta, Southeast Asia are rare and endangered.
at 19:12 on February 28th, 2009
catfish. mmmmmm
these aren't rare, but they are certainly delicious.
at 19:27 on February 28th, 2009
Thank you for the post on this. Important news. It is vital that we protect those species and nature at large as well.
This is a very good post and well done. Thanks.
at 20:09 on February 28th, 2009
Thank you, Paschen, for your comments and recommendation.
at 19:49 on February 28th, 2009
We have huge sturgeon in the Fraser River that runs past Vancouver. These beasts can live over 100 years and are strictly catch and release fish. Fishing enthusiests come from all over the world to fish these majestic fish.
at 08:23 on March 1st, 2009
Thanks for your input about Canada's aquatic species - and recommendation.
My piece is about Mekong Delta's giant aquatic species as these countries need critical conservation works and awareness at this time. There are significant differences between the poor and wealthy nations' priorities.
Nevertheless, the MegaFishes Project is not due to make its studies in North America until late 2009.
at 23:00 on February 28th, 2009
Sounds like a fascinating and important project - thanks for the post.
at 06:45 on March 1st, 2009
Thank you, Rachel, for your comments and recommendation.
I'm just delighted that the MegaFishes Project even exists. It is an important conservation project for Southeast Asia and its ecosystem that these giant aquatic species are protected as they are disappearing due to a myriad of human-made actions. These are developing countries lacking the means, resources, and educational tools to better manage and protect their natural resources, namely these giant aquatic species, unlike the wealthy and developed nations.
at 07:58 on March 1st, 2009
a very informative and interesting post. the catfish in the picture looks like it measures at least 5 ft.
at 08:17 on March 1st, 2009
Thank you, Rumana, for reading, your comments and recommendation.
I agree with you and Amy, these freshwater giants are huge based on the photos from the National Geographic and the MegaFishes Project, and in my case, anecdotal accounts from family and relatives.
at 10:02 on March 8th, 2009
I was filming green turtles in Bali in collaboration with WWF.
They do a GREAT job out there in the real World!
Fine piece, Pythiian1.
at 14:26 on March 8th, 2009
Thank you, Zeet, for your read and recommendation. It is great to know that the WWF is doing great works to preserve and protect our ecosystem.
I hope the public will be better educated and more importantly, in those developed countries, there will be more educational programs and necessary tools for the local people to preserve their natural resources. After all, we all share the same ecosystem.