Aquaculture Catch and Culture Aquaculture - Environment Fisheries and Environment Research and Development in the Mekong Region Volume 25, No 1 ISSN 0859-290X April 2019 INSIDE l US-Cambodian-Japanese venture launches $70 mln wildlife project l Thai exhibition highlights fisheries based on Mekong species l Vietnam company breaks ground on ambitious catfish farm l Redesigning the Xayaburi hydropower project l Forecasts see 70 to 80 pct chance of El Nino developing l American soybean farmers launch fish feed project in Cambodia April 2019 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 25, No. 1 1 Aquaculture Catch and Culture - Environment is published three times a year by the office of the Mekong River Commission Secretariat in Vientiane, Lao PDR, and distributed to over 650 subscribers around the world. The preparation of the newsletter is facilitated by the Environmental Management Division of the MRC. Free email subscriptions are available through the MRC website, www.mrcmekong.org. For information on the cost of hard-copy subscriptions, contact the MRC’s Documentation Centre at [email protected]. Contributions to Catch and Culture - Environment should be sent to [email protected] and copied to [email protected]. © Mekong River Commission 2019 Editorial Panel: Tran Minh Khoi, Director of Environmental Management Division So Nam, Chief Environmental Management Officer Phattareeya Suanrattanachai, Fisheries Management Specialist Prayooth Yaowakhan, Ecosystem and Wetland Specialist Nuon Vanna, Fisheries and Aquatic Ecology Officer Dao Thi Ngoc Hoang, Water Quality Officer Editor: Peter Starr Designer: Chhut Chheana Associate Editor: Michele McLellan The opinions and interpretation expressed within are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Mekong River Commission. Cover illustration: International Concept Management 2 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 25, No. 1 April 2019 AquacultureContents Contents 4 Tourism Angkor aquarium project launched by US-Cambodian-Japanese venture 12 Aquaculture (1) Mekong Delta company breaks ground on ambitious Vietnamese catfish project 16 Aquaculture (2) Vietnamese catfish exports surge 26.5 pct to record $2.26 bln in 2018 18 Chelonians River guardians protect giant turtle eggs 20 Fish diversity Updated MRC database estimates 1,148 fish species in Mekong Basin 22 Fish feed US soybean group launches $17 mln project for fish feed in Cambodia 26 Climate (1) Forecasts see 70 to 80 pct chance of El Niño developing this year 28 Climate (2) Two El Niño niclimate scenarios for the region 32 Northeast Thailand New rice, tasty fish 42 New publications Redesigning the Xayaburi project April 2019 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 25, No. 1 3 Tourism Angkor aquarium project launched by US-Cambodian-Japanese venture State-of-the-art aquarium in Siem Reap is Reynolds, chief excecutive of International Concept expected to showcase Mekong species as part Management Corp (ICM), a US-based aquarium of the first phase of a $70 milion wildlife park developer operating from Hong Kong. Speaking at a on the edge of Southeast Asia’s largest lake groundbreaking reception at the US ambassador’s residence in Phnom Penh on April 29, Reynolds A group of American, Japanese and Cambodian said the project had been under discussion for three investors has started building a state-of-the- years with Cambodian businessman Meng Hieng art aquarium facility as part of a $70 million whose interests range from a chain of bookstores investment in a new Angkor Animal Kingdom in Cambodia, Lao PDR and Myanmar to a travel in Siem Reap. The world-class aquarium and agency and a children’s indoor entertainment other features — including elephant and tiger centre in Phnom Penh. Apart from Reynolds and sanctuaries, a research facility, a floating market Meng Hieng, other shareholders in the venture and a nature walk — are budgeted at $18 million are Cambodian businesswoman Michelle Lau and mark the first phase in a three-phase project and Japanese architect and businessman Takuya on a 100-hectare site with construction scheduled Higuchi. Percentages of the stakes held by each of to be completed in May, 2021. the four investors were not disclosed. “We are developing several aquariums highlighting Among biggest US investments in Cambodia the giant fish of the Mekong River,” said Roger “This project is one of the biggest American investments in Cambodia in many years,” said Michael Newbill, chargé d’affaires at the US embassy. “Because of US support, this aquarium and wildlife park will be a world-class destination. We have the expertise of ICM, the world’s leading aquarium specialists, to thank for that.” Newbill said the aquarium would add to the “must-see” destinations in Siem Reap, home to the Angkor temples dating back to ninth century. “Cambodia is getting value added to an already prime tourist destination,” he said. “This project represents US investment in a healthy, prosperous, democratic and secure Cambodia,” he said. Acting Tourism Minister Tith Chantha told the reception that he was “convinced” the aquarium and wildlidfe park would succeed and "potentially add value to the extension of stay for tourists in Siem Reap.” He said the number of international tourist arrivals in Cambodia rose 11 percent from a year earlier to 6.2 million in 2018 and was projected to reach 7 million by 2020. “Domestic tourists also play an important role,” the acting minister said, adding that the number of Cambodian tourism visits was estimated at Mr Meng Hieng at the groundbreaking reception on April 29 more than 10 million every year. Tith Chanta said Photo: Matt Baddley tourism now accounted for about 13 percent of 4 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 25, No. 1 April 2019 Tourism Mr Reynolds Mr Higuchi Photo: Matt Baddley Photo: Supplied Cambodia’s gross domestic product (GDP) and noted that the ecosystem supports about 1,000 generated hundreds of thousands of jobs. He species of freshwater fish, many of which are said the government’s strategy was to continue unusual, rare and endangered. He also said that developing Cambodia as a “clean and green” aquariums could generate income for education tourist destination with high-quality services and conservation programs. “The best aquariums focusing on the country’s tangible and intangible identify funding opportunities through grants and heritage assets along with other attractions develop local outreach and conservation efforts.” including natural resources and the Mekong. Hogan noted that the Mekong was a “river facing 'No better location for a new world-class aquarium' many urgent and complex challenges from a National Geographic Explorer Zeb Hogan, a growing human population and accelerating conservation biologist who has been working regional development. We all appreciate the in Cambodia for more than 20 years, told the enormity of these challenges and understand reception that he hoped the aquarium would be a the need for conservation and education,” he “positive and life-changing experience” for visitors. said, adding that the project could play “such “I can think of no better location for a new world- an important role in supporting biodiversity class aquarium than on the edge of the Tonle Sap conservation, sustainable development and Lake in Siem Reap,” he said. “Having a state- enironmentally friendly policies.” (see interview of-the-art aquarium in Cambodia will showcase with Dr Hogan on page 10). one of the most important ecosystems on earth — the Mekong River Basin and in particular the Newbill, the American chargé d’affaires, also Cambodian Mekong and the Tonle Sap.” Hogan, highlighted the educational potential of the project. who heads the USAID-funded Wonders of the “We in the United States also value conservation, Mekong project launched in 2017 in collaboration with Cambodian Fisheries Administration, Continued on page 9 ... April 2019 Catch and Culture - Environment Volume 25, No. 1 5 Tourism Aquarium developer aims to ‘turn cities and countries into destinations' International Concept Management Corp ICM projects completed and in progress (ICM) is a US-based company focussing on Azerbaijan Baku Waves * aquariums and other themed attractions with its Brazil Acquario Ceara * Campo Grande * Asian headquarters in Hong Kong and offices Catuai Palladium * in Brazil, Russia and Thailand. The company Iconic Aquarium * was founded in 1995 by Roger Reynolds, who Litoral Plaza * established Reynolds Polymer Technology Inc as Ribeiro Preta * China Macau City of Dreams a manufacturer of acrylic windows for aquariums North City Whale Shark Aquarium * in 1987. Both ICM and Reynolds Polymer Dominican Repubic Aquamundo are based in Grand Junction, Colorado with Germany Aquadom Reynolds serving as chief executive of ICM. He Greece Porto Elounda De Luxe Resort Lithuania AB Baltic Mega Mall no longer has a controling interest in the polymer Morocco Aquadream company, which is now a sub-contractor to ICM. Russia Avia Park Mall Oceania Mall Aquarium To improve its turnkey approach to projects, TPS Mall * ICM established three divisions in 2009 — a Saudi Arabia Jeddah Beach Turkey Mardan Palace Hotel design and engineering division, a construction United Arab Emirates Burj-Al-Arab Hotel division and an operations and development Dubai Mall Aquarium division. In 2011, the company opened an United States Landry’s Houston office in Brazil — now the country with the most Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino projects in progress (see box on opposite page) Scheels Sporting