According to scientists, the largest registered freshwater fish in the world was caught in Cambodia – a giant stingray, Al Jazeera reports.
Caught on June 13, the stingray measures almost four meters from snout to tail and weighs nearly 300 kg. The previous record for freshwater fish was 293 kg and it was a giant catfish from the Mekong River, discovered in Thailand in 2005.
Named Borami, which means full moon in Khmer, the stingray was captured in northeastern Cambodia. About a dozen men were needed to pull the huge fish ashore. The fisherman who caught Borami, in addition to the honor of catching a record catch, was rewarded with $ 600.
Scientists in the region immediately received information about the catch and were amazed by what they saw. “When you see fish of this size, especially in fresh water, it’s hard to think, so I think our whole team was shocked,” said Zeb Hogan of the Mekong Wonders Foundation.
Freshwater fish are defined as those that spend their entire lives in freshwater, as opposed to giant marine species such as bluefin tuna and marlin, or fish that migrate between fresh and salt water such as sturgeon and beluga.
According to scientists, the discovery of this slope is not just a stunning record, but also a good sign for the legendary Mekong River. It passes through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. The river is home to several species of giant freshwater fish, but the pressure on the environment is increasing. In particular, scientists fear that a major dam-building program in recent years could seriously disrupt spawning grounds.
