Giant catfish, netted in Thailand, may be the largest freshwater fish ever found. Photo Suthep Kritsanavarin

Dr. Zeb Hogan, a WWF Conservation Science fellow and leader of a WWF and National Geographic Society project studying giant freshwater fish, remarked "It's amazing to think that giants like this still swim in some of the world's rivers…We've now confirmed that this catfish is the current record holder, an astonishing find." 

Local environmentalists and officials negotiated with the fishermen to release the record-breaking animal but the fish, an adult male, later died. The Mekong River is home to more species of giant fish than any other river, however catches of the giant catfish are declining; local fishermen blame this on dams upstream and increasing environmental pressures. It is thought that this giant fish might have been making its migration to a spawning area in the far north of Thailand, near the borders of Thailand, Laos, Myanmar and China, such long distance migrations are common in many fish species.

Dr. Hogan is studying over 20 species of giant fresh-water fish around the world such as the giant freshwater stingray. "I'm thrilled that we've set a new record, but we need to put this discovery in context: these giant fish are uniformly poorly studied and some are critically endangered. Some, like the Mekong giant catfish, face extinction," continued Dr. Hogan. "My study of giant freshwater fish is showing a clear and global pattern: the largest fish species are disappearing. The challenge is clear: we must find methods to protect these species and their habitats. By acting now, we can save animals like the Mekong giant catfish from extinction." 

The Mekong River Basin is home to more species of massive fish than any river on Earth. It is also one of the most productive fisheries in the world, generating $1.7 billion each year. Fish from the Mekong are the primary source of protein for the 73 million people that live along the river.