Mekong giant catfish (Pangasianodon gigas)

Largest freshwater fish in the world

The Mekong giant catfish can reach a length of three metres and weigh up to 300kg. It is unique to the Mekong River and migrates huge distances to spawn.

It is found in the mainstream of the Lower Mekong in Myanmar, Lao PDR, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. It used to be relatively common further north along the Thai-Lao PDR border but is now extremely rare in this area.

Scientists estimate that the total number of Mekong giant catfish have decreased by around 90% in the last decade.

Threats
Threats to the Mekong giant catfish, and several other giant migratory fish species in the Mekong, include infrastructure development such as dams that block migration routes and isolate some populations. Without the ability to move up and down rivers, the fish have fewer opportunities to breed.

Navigation projects have also destroyed critical spawning grounds and over-fishing has led to depleted fish stocks.