Giant 'Tri Reach' Released Back into Tonle Sap Lake, Reflecting Fishermen's Cooperation in Protecting Critically Endangered Species

In a significant conservation effort, a giant 'Tri Reach' (Mekong Giant Catfish), measuring 2.3 meters in length and weighing 130 kilograms, was released back into the natural waters of Tonle Sap Lake in Siem Reap province on September 17, 2026. The fish was inadvertently caught by local fishermen in Pursat district. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries highlighted that this event underscores the close and effective collaboration between fishermen, the Fisheries Administration, and the 'Miracles of the Mekong' project in their joint endeavor to conserve a critically endangered, globally rare freshwater species. According to the ministry, rescue operations for the Tri Reach have yielded continuous positive results. In total, 26 individuals were released between 2023 and 2024, followed by five more in 2025. Most recently, one fish named 'Rumdul Kong Meas' was found entangled in a net by fishermen in Kak Khoy commune, Kang Meas district, Kampong Cham province, and after being tagged with code 039, was released back into the Mekong River. The ministry views these ongoing release activities as clear evidence of a shift in behavior and heightened awareness among fishermen, who are increasingly participating in the protection of precious aquatic resources and natural heritage for future generations. The Tri Reach is a freshwater fish species that typically inhabits the Tonle Sap Lake and upper Mekong River regions, particularly in the deep pools along the Mekong in Kratie and Stung Treng provinces. This species is classified as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List, facing a high risk of extinction. Source: AKP Khmer