Bonn, 11 July 2007: CMS Appointed Councillor for Fish Zeb Hogan embarked this spring on a 3 year Megafish project to Thailand to conserve megafish in the rivers and lakes in South East Asia. The project is supported by the National Geographic Society. The Mekong is the world’s richest river of its size in biodiversity and one of the most threatened examples of natural heritage.

As part of Zeb Hogan’s innovative scientific approach, a Giant Catfish was tagged to study its migratory patterns and to locate its spawning area. The Mekong is now considered to be critical habitat. While this fish species is threatened with extinction, scientists have not yet had a chance to become acquainted with the species. Spawning areas are still unknown as well as ecology and taxonomy.

CMS Executive Secretary Robert Hepworth emphasized the vital importance of Hogan’s mission: “The flagship species that the Megafish Project focuses on can catch the imagination and interest of the public and of policy makers. The project’s ecosystem approach ensures direct effects on broader species and habitat conservation. The Convention on Migratory Species fully supports this project.”

The critically endangered Giant Catfish is listed on Appendix I of the Convention. Other large fish species are at risk too. Over fishing and habitat degradation are traditional threats to any aquatic species. In the Mekong River Delta population density, industrial waste and boat traffic are typical threats to river species and build up even more pressure. In addition dams are obstacles to this highly migratory fish species and pose a threat to fish biodiversity.

Freshwater fish are especially vulnerable: they reproduce very slowly and might not reach maturity in a confined habitat. Once habitat degradation has started, it is impossible for the species to migrate to another.

Zeb Hogan warns that the Giant Catfish might suffer the same fate as the Chinese River Dolphin. Not a single specimen of this dolphin species was spotted during an expedition on the Yangtze River that lasted six weeks at the end of 2006. Now the Giant Catfish might become extinct before scientists have a chance to study them.

The future of the species depends on community acceptance and finance. Hogan deplores the lack of funding for the protection of large fish species and to study the impact of commercial fisheries. The strong focus on climate change worldwide diverted funding previously allocated for the Mekong Wetlands Biodiversity Conversation and Sustainable Use Programme. Zeb Hogan stresses that a major responsibility lies with decision makers.

“The species and ecosystems concerned cannot be saved without a much greater level of awareness and support, both of local communities and of world forces. Only a high level of international cooperation and political will, supported by broad public concern, has a chance of overcoming the problems these endangered species are facing and reversing the dramatic downward trends observed”, agrees Robert Hepworth.

Dr Zeb Hogan won the UNEP/CMS Thesis Award 2005 for his PhD project on the Mekong Giant Catfish. The CMS Secretariat promotes this Award, which is sponsored funded by National Geographic Germany and Lufthansa to encourage scientific research and conservation of migratory species.