Are Cambodia’s freshwater fish in trouble?

[geovalin]

Destructive fishing and hydropower dams on free flowing rivers are two main reasons for the extinction of some freshwater fish in Cambodia including the Giant Barb and Isok, a report by World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) revealed on Wednesday. In addition to the two causes, the report highlights overfishing, habitat destruction, over abstraction of water for irrigation and domestic, agricultural and industrial pollution that are of threats to freshwater ecosystems where fish live.

It also says that freshwater fish at risk from the introduction of invasive non-native species and the impacts of climate change as well as unsustainable sand mining and wildlife crime. The report acknowledges the Mekong River as one of the world’s most productive inland fisheries with over 1,100 species of fish.

Giant Barb and Isok Barb are classified as critically endangered both globally and in Cambodia, while Giant Goonch, Mekong Tiger Perch and Elephant-ear Gourami are classified as endangered in the Kingdom.

 

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