Artificial Reproduction of Four Rare Fish Species

Bagarius yarrelli sykes (Image: planetcatfish)

The Research Institute for Aquaculture I (Ministry of Fisheries) has successfully bred four of the rarest fish species from the Red River system. These species include:

• Spotted Catfish (Hemibagrus guttatus Lacépède),
• Giant Catfish (Bagarius yarrelli sykes),
• Gudgeon (Spinibarbus denticulatus Oshima),
• Black Carp (Semilabeo obscurus Lin).

Experts indicate that the populations of these four fish species are currently experiencing a significant decline and are at risk of extinction, classified as critically endangered (level 2). The catch of these species has dropped to only 10% – 15% of the yields from the 1970s and 1980s; in fact, the catch of Gudgeon has dwindled to approximately 1% of its former levels.