Mekong River’s new aquamarine colour may be sign of trouble

CTV News — The Mekong River has recently acquired an aquamarine colour that may beguile tourists but also indicates a problem caused by upstream dams, experts in Thailand say. The river usually has a yellowish-brown shade due to the sediment it normally carries downstream. But lately it has been running clear, taking on a blue-green hue that is a reflection of the sky. The Read More…

Super-strong El Nino raises drought fears in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta

Tuoi Tre News — El Nino is a natural climate phenomenon characterized by the abnormal warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. In 2015, as the Mekong Delta was heading into a harsh dry season, international weather agencies, including the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Read More…

Thai river groups protest, demanding Myanmar halt mines over pollution

The Nation — Environmental campaigners rallied outside the Myanmar Consulate in Chiang Mai on August 3, demanding that Myanmar’s military government halt mining operations they allege are contaminating the Kok, Sai, Ruak and Mekong rivers. Members of the Network for the Protection of the Kok, Sai, Ruak and Mekong Rivers marched from Santitham Temple carrying bottles of water Read More…

Research in focus: fishers and fish react to a changing environment

Cornell Chronicle – The world’s fisheries sustain millions of people. The food they provide is crucial for human nutrition and livelihoods. Yet the ecosystems that produce aquatic foods face unprecedented challenges from pollution, overfishing and climate change. Determining how to manage these ecosystems requires that we think about environmental issues in tandem with the social, Read More…

‘Hungry river’ phenomenon to blame for severe erosion of Mekong…

Radio Free Asia – Upstream dams and sand mining have caused significant erosion along the Mekong River in western Laos, according to experts, devastating riparian communities in the impoverished Southeast Asian nation with high waters and powerful currents. But residents of those communities say they believe that other issues are to blame. Brian Eyler, director of the Southeast Asia Read More…

Return of Mekong giant salmon carp raises hopes

The Phnom Penh Post – A team of scientists were stunned when a rare species of fish – previously considered extinct in Cambodian waters – was caught by a fisherman near the Sesan II hydropower dam in Stung Treng province. Thach Panara, head of the Laboratory, Inland Fisheries Research and Development Institute under the Fisheries Administration, told The Post that no examples of the Read More…

Scientific expeditions could boost ailing tourist industry

The Phnom Penh Post – Areas along the Mekong River are set to become hotspots in the Kingdom for conducting scientific studies on the unexpected survival of endangered species and other biodiversity-related subjects, according to officials. The remarks came after scientists from the Wonders of the Mekong project and the Cambodian Fisheries Administration (FiA) announced that a 300kg giant Read More…

Fishermen catch 661-pound stingray, world’s largest freshwater fish

Fox News – That is one big fish. Fishermen in northern Cambodia caught a 661-pound freshwater stingray in the Mekong River earlier this month, according to reports. The massive fish, which was caught on June 13, 2022, has been recognized as the world’s largest freshwater fish to be officially recorded, per Guinness World Records. The female stingray was named Boramy, which means "full Read More…

Oxfam wraps up campaign to raise awareness on importance of Mekong…

Khmer Times – Oxfam wrapped up a four-month campaign called ‘Along the Mekong with Sai’- a campaign to promote ecotourism, the livelihood of the vulnerable communities along the Mekong who are affected by the change of water flow, and rising threats to food security. The campaign’s name dedicated to a journey on the Mekong River of a Goodwill Ambassador, Oun Batham, a Cambodian Read More…

How the world’s largest freshwater fish grew to a whopping 660…

Popular Mechanics – If you’re a fan of giant fish, you already know about the Mekong River. Now, familiarize yourself with the new record-holder in the largest freshwater fish category: a giant stingray that measures about 13 feet long and weighs 660 pounds. Earlier this month, a local fisherman caught the beast in the Mekong River, located in northeastern Cambodia. The stingray—which Read More…