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The fishery of the Lower Mekong Basin is exceptionally rich and diverse. The number of fish species alone is estimated to be more than 1,200, perhaps as many as 1,700 according to the estimate of some researchers. The Mekong River is home to one of the largest freshwater fish in the world. This is the giant catfish (Pangasianodon gigas). The maximum recorded size of the Mekong giant catfish is 300 kg and 3 metres in length.
The Mekong has more families of fishes (91) than any other river in the world. The fish stock has been able to migrate and rejuvenate with the seasonal and annual pulse of the river and its ecosystem. Annual catches were recently estimated at more than 2 million tonnes, amounting to an average consumption of at least 36 kg/year for each of the 60 million people living in the Basin.
Although there are some large-scale fishing operations, especially on the Tonle Sap and in the Mekong delta regions, most fishing activities are small-scale and subsistence-oriented, using a wide variety of fishing gear, including fish traps. For many people, fishing is only one of several livelihood activities. Yet, as a staple diet, it is particularly important for food security.
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