Single surviving giant stingray to be released back into Mae Klong…

The Nation The last surviving giant freshwater stingray of those rescued after the mass deaths of more than 50 of the rare fish in the Mae Klong River in October will be returned to its natural habitat this month. The stingray, nicknamed “Mae Buaban”, is being kept at the Samut Songkhram Coastal Fisheries Research and Development Centre. Authorities say it will be released back into Read More…

Agreement to conserve Mekong River fish

Khmer Times Cambodia and Laos have formed a joint committee aimed at preserving and increasing the population of freshwater fish in the Mekong River. The committee was formed because of declining fish stocks in part due to illegal fishing and the construction of hydropower dams. In a statement released by the Mekong River Commission, both nations met in Siem Reap province earlier this month Read More…

As Timber Thins, Kratie Province Turns to Fish

The Cambodia Daily koh khnhe, Kratie Province – Half the houses in this village are deserted. Pale dust from the dirt road coats staircases falling into disrepair. Scraps of wood beneath them weather. Tractors used to cart timber are slowly rusting. “They’ve gone, all of them,” says Soung Sophy. “You drive your car here, you won’t meet people. There are just Read More…

Thai conservationists oppose plan to dredge Mekong River

Channel NewsAsia Conservationists in Thailand are worried that dredging the Mekong River would destroy ecosystems supporting numerous fish and bird species in the 180km stretch that flows past the northern province of Chiang Rai. The drop in fish population would affect millions of people - not just those living in riverside communities, they said. China initiated dredging in 2001 as a Read More…

All Tonle Sap Fishing Boats to Be Registered

The Cambodia Daily Officials are drafting a directive that would require all fishing boats in provinces surrounding the Tonle Sap Lake to be registered, an attempt to curb illegal fishing on the sprawling lake as part of a crackdown that started last year. “All fishermen have to get their boats registered,” Agriculture Minister Veng Sakhon said on Tuesday. “This is a measure to Read More…

Tourism puts dolphins at risk in Southeast Asia

The Conversation Dolphin- and whale-watching tourism is a booming industry worldwide, and it’s growing apace in developing parts of Asia. Many tourists flock to see spinner dolphins in Bali or Bohol; blue whales off Sri Lanka; Chinese white dolphins in Hong Kong; or Irrawaddy dolphins in great rivers like the Mekong and Ayeyarwaddy (as the Irrawaddy is now known). This interest in seeing Read More…

He once electrocuted fish, now he’s a reformed river protector

Oxfam In Cambodia, awareness about environment turns fisherman into defender of the river. Kem Soth and his wife Phun Lai used to buy fish off the boats along the Mekong River to sell in local markets near their home in Kratie province. A few years ago, he noticed something: While most of the fishers would come in with two or three kilos (five or six pounds) of fish, he saw one boat that Read More…

Chinese scientists discover new species of catfish in Myanmar

The Fish Site During a survey of the freshwater fishes of the Mali Hka River drainage in the Hponkanrazi Wildlife Sanctuary, Myanmar, scientists Xiao-Yong Chen, Tao Qin and Zhi-Ying Chen, from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), identified a new catfish species among the collected specimens. It is distinct with a set of morphological features including its mouthparts and coloration. The Read More…

Rolling down the river

The Nation A medical doctor in Chiang Rai uses his drone to show how the Mekong will be changed forever if the plan to blast the rapids becomes a reality The rocky shoals and rapids of the Mekong River are magnificent when viewed close to, but seen from the air they make a meaningful statement about the greatness of this river that rises in the Tibetan plateau and winds its way through Read More…

Cambodian minister wants tougher fisheries crackdown

Khmer Times Interior Minister Sar Kheng has ordered government officials and department heads to crack down on anyone committing fishing crimes, telling a committee meeting that lax efforts to “educate” repeat offenders continued to fail and exacerbate the problem. According to Deputy National Police Chief Kirth Chantharith, Mr. Kheng told the attendees of a meeting about illegal Read More…