“It’s official: A 300-kilogram stingray discovered in Cambodia last year is the largest freshwater fish ever recorded, a Guinness Book of Records judge announced,” the
U.S. Agency for International Development says.

“The gigantic ray, which weighs as much as three baby elephants, was caught by fishermen in the Mekong River in northern Cambodia in June 2022. The previous world record for the largest fish species living in rivers or lakes, a 646-pound catfish caught in Thailand, had remained unchallenged for nearly two decades.”

“Immediately after the remarkable catch, the fishermen contacted a team from the Wonders of the Mekong project, which conducts research, capacity building and outreach to address conservation and development challenges in the Lower Mekong Basin. The project is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

“Working with officials from the Cambodian Fisheries Department in Stung Treng province and the Cambodian Inland Fisheries Research and Development Institute, the researchers measured the female ray, attached an acoustic homing tag to it and released it into its natural habitat.

“The tagging will help track their movements and identify important habitats for the endangered fish.”

“The successful model of hand-in-hand work between government, communities and USAID allowed us to officially measure, tag and then release this fish. This enabled us to gain information that could help save the species from extinction,” said
Zeb HoganProject manager of “Wonders of the Mekong”.

The recognition of the record-breaking fish comes at a critical time for the rare, endangered species, according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Scientists know very little about the giant freshwater stingray, a species whose population has declined dramatically across its Southeast Asian range.”

“The Mekong is a global biodiversity hotspot and home to more than 1,200 different species of fish, including the world’s largest freshwater stingray,” said the U.S. ambassador to Cambodia.
W. Patrick Murphy“The United States is proud to participate in efforts to protect the Mekong’s wildlife and protect endangered species, all in an effort to preserve Cambodia’s abundant fisheries and the livelihoods of millions of Cambodians.”

Following the Guinness announcement, Cambodia’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), together with the Wonders of the Mekong project, is convening a team of Cambodian and international scientists to share information to help develop means to protect the giant stingray. At the conclusion of the meeting, researchers and policymakers will draft a conservation strategy to guide future conservation efforts.”

“Protecting the giant stingray is in line with our commitment to the sustainable development of aquatic resources in inland Cambodia to ensure the country’s food security and long-term prosperity,” said MAFF HE Has Sareth.

“We wholeheartedly support this important effort to provide scientific information and technical support for the management of giant stingrays and other aquatic resources in Cambodia.”

The Mekong River in Cambodia is home to more species of giant fish than any other river on earth. These include two of the world’s largest catfish species, the giant Mekong catfish and the giant pangasius, as well as several species of carp: the giant barbel, the seven-striped barbel and the recently rediscovered giant salmon carp.

“The giant stingray symbolizes the fate of the Mekong and how the development of the river basin can be balanced with environmental protection so that the lush Mekong can continue to provide for the people of the region for generations to come,” said Ms.
Chea SeilaProgram Manager for
Wonders of the Mekong.

“The world record for the largest freshwater fish ever discovered on Earth has just been broken! A 661-pound giant freshwater stingray was hooked by a Cambodian fisherman in a rural stretch of the Mekong River,” the
mekongwonder says.

“Fortunately, the fisherman contacted the Wonders of the Mekong team, setting in motion the first acoustic tagging operation of a freshwater stingray. Over the past month, Wonders of the Mekong team members, along with FISHBIO and others, have been installing a network of acoustic receivers throughout the Cambodian Mekong Basin.

“This new network will allow scientists to observe this rare fish species and learn more about their movements and behavior! Read more about this collaboration at the link in our bio.”