Phnom Penh: Cambodia is currently home to approximately 105 Mekong River dolphins, with an increasing birth rate, according to His Excellency Dith Tina, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries. The birth rate of these dolphins rose from six in 2022 to eight in 2023.

During the celebration of National Fish Day on the morning of July 1, 2024, presided over by Prime Minister Samdech Hun Manet, Minister Dith Tina highlighted the ministry's efforts in managing, conserving, and developing sustainable fisheries resources. The Ministry of Agriculture, through the Fisheries Administration, has been focusing on maintaining a balance between conservation and development.

Minister Dith Tina reported that the Ministry has been actively taking legal action against fishing offenses and the production and distribution of fishing gear that severely damages fisheries resources. Efforts include promoting the release of sturgeon and endangered fish into the wild, enforcing strict control measures during the off-season, constructing fish ladders to facilitate fish movement, and rescuing spawning fish in conservation areas during the dry season.

As a result of these efforts, the death rate of Mekong River dolphins has significantly reduced from 11 in 2022 to five in 2023. In the first six months of 2024, eight dolphins have given birth, and only two have died, marking an encouraging trend.

The Minister also noted that, in cooperation with development partners through the Mekong River Miracle Project, Cambodia has released 21,363 freshwater fish species, including catfish, carp, trout, and red cucumber, back into their natural habitats since 2020. These fish were tagged with tracking systems to study their movements.

The Mekong dolphin is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List. In Cambodia, these dolphins primarily inhabit the Mekong River in Kratie and Stung Treng provinces.