Rare Mekong River Fish 'Pasa Nak' Rediscovered in Cambodia, Offering Hope for Conservation

New records have brought renewed hope for the conservation of the Pasa Nak fish (Aaptosyax grypus), one of the rarest fish in the Mekong River, which was previously believed to be extinct in Cambodia. This was announced by the Wonders of the Mekong project on September 16, 2026. According to a research article published in the journal Oryx by researchers from the Wonders of the Mekong project, the Inland Fisheries Research and Development Institute, the Cambodian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the General Directorate of Fisheries, the University of Nevada, the University of Svay Rieng, and the University of Toulouse, the presence of this rare, near-extinct fish in the Mekong River has brought new hope. The Pasa Nak fish is a rare species that inhabits the Mekong River basin. It was believed to have gone extinct in the Mekong River in Cambodia, as no specimens had been found between 2005 and 2020. However, the discovery of three Pasa Nak specimens in Stung Treng Province during 2020 and 2025 has provided new hope for researchers and conservationists to continue protecting the habitat and this rare species. Furthermore, a specimen weighing 6.2 kilograms, obtained on November 27, 2025, is preserved in the specimen room of the Faculty of Fisheries and Aquaculture at the Royal University of Agriculture. It will be displayed to the younger generation to learn about this rare fish and encourage further research. The other two specimens are kept in the specimen room at the Inland Fisheries Research and Development Institute under the General Directorate of Fisheries. Source: AKP Khmer