Why Billions of Fish Are Luring Scientists to This River
March 29, 2017 -
Billions of fish migrate southward to the Mekong River in Cambodia each year. This migration attracts fisherme
n, who take advantage of the abundant harvest. The river is so full that one fishing net can pull in up to 600 pounds of fish. Few studies have been done to track the migrating fish to measure the health of their population. So National Geographic Explorer
Zeb Hogan has joined a fishing crew along the Tonle Sap River, which connects the largest lake in Southeast Asia to the Mekong River, to tag fish and determine how many survive the journey. While massive numbers of fish are on the move during the migration season,
overfishing and dam building have taken a heavy toll on fish numbers.
Read "Enormous Fish Make One of the World’s Largest Migrations."Learn more about Zeb Hogan.
Each year, billions of fish migrate southward to the Mekong river in Cambodia.
Large fish, like the Mekong giant catfish and giant barb, begin the journey first.
Over the next few months, smaller fish follow.
Fishermen descend on the migration route on the Tonle Sap River… to take advantage of the abundant harvest.
One net can pull in up to 600 lbs. of fish.
The harvest includes up to 100 different species of fish, including a small carp known as “trey riel” or “money fish.”
Trey riel is produced into a salty paste called “prahok” that’s use in Cambodian cuisine.
Few studies have been done to track the migrating fish to measure the health of their population.
So National Geographic Explorer Zeb Hogan is working with the local fishermen to tag fish and determine how many survive the journey.
The migration down the Tonle Sap River is one of the largest, in terms of sheer numbers of animals on the move.
But overfishing and dam building have taken a heavy toll on fish numbers.
