Rare fish rediscovered in Cambodia after disappearance for nearly 2 decades

PHNOM PENH, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- The "Mekong ghost" fish has resurfaced in Cambodia after nearly two decades without a trace, said a news release on Tuesday.

The elusive giant salmon carp (Aaptosyax grypus) has been spotted once again in the waters of Cambodia by a team of international scientists led by the Fisheries Administration under the Cambodian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, according to the news release.

The unusual fish, a carp with a hooked jaw and salmon-shaped body, had not been documented since 2005, the news release said, adding that an international team of scientists has confirmed the existence of three giant salmon carp caught between 2020 and 2023, a significant finding for a fish previously feared extinct.

"The rediscovery of the giant salmon carp is a reason for hope, not just for this species but for the entire Mekong ecosystem," said Bunyeth Chan, lead researcher from Svay Rieng University in Cambodia.

"The Mekong ecosystem is the most productive river on Earth, producing over 2 million tons of fish per year worth over 10 billion U.S. dollars," he added.

As a result of the rediscovery, the Cambodian Fisheries Administration has added the giant salmon carp to its list of protected species.■