The Nagao Natural
Environment Foundation (NEF) of Japan on February 24 confirmed a total of 540
fish species, including numerous new species, in the Mekong River and Chao
Phraya basin region.

The tally resulted from a project on
human, ecosystem and reasonable use of natural resources in the Mekong River and
Chao Phraya basin region, funded by NEF.

Among 540 fish species found in the Mekong River basin, 67 species were
discovered living there for the first time, while 21 other species had never
been seen previously.

The species are divided into three kinds including giant fish species, tiny
species and popular species. Of these, the giant fish species are facing the
risk of extinction.

According to NEF, from the end of 2007 to 2010, the project was launched and
carried out in four Mekong River Commission member countries, namely Thailand,
Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam to protect the giant fish species from the risk of
extinction.

VietNamNet/VOV