1. Mekong giant catfish tracking project (MCTP)
Japan-Thai cooperative study
Mekong giant catfish tracking project (MCTP)
Nobuaki Arai, Kyoto University
Hiromichi Mitamura, Kyoto University
Yasushi Mitsunaga, Kinki University
Thavee Viputhanumas, DOF, Thailand
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Contents
Background
Objectives
Materials and Methods
Results & Discussion
Conclusions
The Golden Triangle
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6. What’s Mekong giant catfish?
The Mekong giant catfish, Pangasianodon gigas is one of largest freshwater fish in the world.
TL 3 m and BW 300 kg.
It is endemic to the Mekong River
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Endangered species
EN in the IUCN Red list
Appendix I of CITES
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Objectives
To investigate spawning and after spawning behaviors.
To investigate young catfishes behaviors.
No information about young catfish yet.
To evaluate effectiveness on the catfish resource enhancement
In the Mekong River and reservoirs.
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Study areas
Mekong River
Thailand
Chiang Khong
Nakohn Phanom
Kalasin
Song Khram river
Study area
in 2002
20°
10°
100°
110°
The Mekong River in Thai territory
The Mae-puem Reservoir
Khong Chiam
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The Mekong River
Lao PDR
Thailand
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11. Ultrasonic biotelemetry
VR1 and VR2 receiver system detects signals from the coded transmitters and stores their IDs and the time.
Coded ultrasonic transmitters encode 256 IDs at the same ultrasonic frequency.
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Coded transmitters
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Internal attachment
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14. Characteristics of the Mekong giant catfish* used in 2002 and 2003
Mekong River 　
2003
　Mekong River
　Mae-puem ID
FL(cm)
BW(kg)
TL(cm) 1
103.5
15.0 31
81.0
4.3 42
108
13.0 2
86.5
9.0 32
76.5
3.5 43
103
13.5 3
105.0
17.0 33
83.0
4.6 44
116
14.8 4
91.0
12.0 34
81.5
4.1 45
17.6 5 35
88.5
5.8 46
120
18.8 6
67.5
4.2 36
80.5 47
113
16.2 7
67.0
4.7 37
4.4 49
110
17.2 8
72.0
5.2 38
79.0
3.8 50
111
14.2 9
69.0
5.4 39
4.5 - 10
70.5 40
78.5
Average
83.6
9.3
81.1
112.1
15.7 SD
5.0
3.2
0.6
5.3
2.1
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*All the catfish were artificially inseminated.

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VR1 setup locations in 2002
Bannakhae
No.1
60km
Ban Chaiburi
No.4
No.3
No.5
Song Khram river
Release point
We used five VR1 receiver systems.
We set up these receivers at these areas along Mekong River.
Two receivers was set up near the release point.
One was set up at a branch.
Another was set up at the 60 km upstream point.
Last one was set up at the 40 km downstream point.
50km
River View Hotel
No.2
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VR1 setup locations in 2003
100°
110°
20°
Chiang Khong
Nong Khai
Nakohn Phanom
Thailand
Khong Chiam
10°
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Mae-puem Reservoir
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18. 5th Fish Telemetry in Europe④ ⑥ ⑤ ⑧ ⑦ ⑨ ⑩ ⑪ ⑫ ⑬ ⑭ X
Release station ① ③ ②
VR2 setup in the Mae-puem Reservoir
Local fishermen
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19. VR2 in the Mae-puem reservoir
VR2 receiver
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Release
27th June of 2002 in the Mekong River
11th May of 2003 in the Mekong River
20th May of 2003 in the Mae-puem Reservoir
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22. Tracking by a speed boat
Lao PDR
600m
We also tracked the catfish on board just after the release.
Thailand
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Results & discussion
2002 ID
FL(cm)
BW (kg) 27 28 29 30 1 2 3 4 5 6
Up/Dn
104
15.0
R.P.
60 km up ↑ 87
9.0 ?
105
17.2 91
12.0 68
4.2
Branch
60 km up 7 67
4.7 8 72
5.2 9 69
5.4
50km
down ↓ 10 71
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Bannakhae
No.1
60km
Five of ten catfish were well tracked for ten days.
Four of ten went upward about 60km.
Speed: 178cm/s
One went downward about 50km.
Ban Chaiburi
No.4
No.3
No.5
Song Khram river
50km
River View Hotel
No.2
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2003
100°
110°
20°
Chiang Khong
Nong Khai
200km
Nakohn Phanom
Thailand
Khong Chiam
Two catfish were caught by fishermen on 19th May of 2003.
About 200km upward from the release point.
They swam 200km only for a week.
10°
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27. In the Mae-puem Reservoir④ ⑥ ⑤ ⑧ ⑦ ⑨ ⑩ ⑪ ⑫ ⑬ ⑭ X
Release station ① ③ ②
First download was performed on 26th May of 2003 a week after the release.
All the catfish were recorded.
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All the IDs were detected at St.1.
ID42 inhabited around St.3 or 4 but swam almost everywhere except around St.14.
Night time
ID42 showed clearly diurnal periodicity.
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Conclusions
We tracked the catfish using coded ultrasonic transmitters and VR1 & 2 receivers in the Mekong River and the Mae-puem Reservoir.
The catfish had a tendency toward upward.
The behavior indicated diurnal rhythm.
They seemed to be nocturnal in their habits.
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Thanks !
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