ISSN: 1680-4023 An Introduction to the Fisheries of Lao PDR Mekong River Commission Cambodia . Lao PDR . Thailand . Viet Nam For sustainable development Mekong Development Series No. 6 May 2013 An Introduction to the Fisheries of Lao PDR Mekong Development Series No. 6 May 2013 i Published in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in May 2013 by the Mekong River Commission. This document should be cited as: PHONVISAY Singkham (2013) An introduction to the Fisheries of Lao PDR. Mekong Development Series No. 6, 62 pages. Mekong River Commission, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. ISSN 1680-4023 Editors: Kent G. Hortle, Virginia Addison, Ngor Peng Bun, Peter Degen and So Nam. Copyright: Mekong River Commission Secretariat 576 National Road, #2, Chak Angre Krom, P.O. Box 623, Phnom Penh, Cambodia Tel. (855-23) 425 353 Fax. (855-23) 425 363 The opinions and interpretations expressed within are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Mekong River Commission. Acknowledgements This report was prepared with financial assistance from the Government of Denmark (through Danida) by national counterparts of the MRC Fisheries Programme. The Living Aquatic Resources Research Centre and the Department of Livestock and Fisheries are thanked for their support and for making available their staff to work on this report. Klomjit Chandrapanha and Hans J. Guttman are warmly thanked for their valuable comments on previous drafts. Photographs were contributed by Kent G. Hortle, Joseph G. Garrison, Chris Barlow, Thomas Augustinus, Chavalit Vidthayanon, Kaviphone Phouthavongs, Philippe Cacot, Sayaka Ito and Lauren Valverde. Maps were made by Sou Virak. Chhut Chheana provided design and layout services. Special thanks go to Somphanh Chanphengxay, Sinthavong Viravong, Sommano Phounsavath, Douangkham Singhanouvong, Phanthavong Vongsamphanh, Akhane Phomsouvanh and Aloun Phonvisay for providing support to the preparation of this report. ii Foreword In Lao PDR, fisheries are an integral part of the lives of rural people, providing a major part of their animal protein and micro-nutrient intakes, as well as being an important source of secondary income for a large proportion of the population. People traditionally live beside rivers and streams and grow rice nearby, providing many opportunities to fish and collect other aquatic foods in both natural and constructed habitats. Wild capture fisheries continue to provide the major part of the production for Lao people, with aquaculture and stocking playing an increasing role in supplementing the wild catch. Lao PDR faces the challenges of raising the standard of living of a rapidly expanding population, while at the same time protecting the environment which supports people’s lives and livelihoods. Fisheries management, through such measures as conserving fish habitats, controlling over-fishing and restricting use of destructive gear, plays an important role in maintaining fisheries, while stocking and aquaculture can increase the yield of fisheries. However, the development of water resources, in particular to support irrigated agriculture, hydropower and other essential industries, has great potential to impact fisheries, so the key to fisheries management is to engage effectively with other sectors and ensure that fisheries are taken into account in their planning and development. In this respect, a key role of the MRC is to summarise and disseminate information to promote understanding and dialogue between those with an interest in the use of water resources. This report, the sixth in the Development Series, summarises key aspects of the fisheries of Lao PDR, providing an introduction and overview for a general audience. It is hoped that readers will develop a better appreciation of the diversity, size and value of this important sector, and an appreciation of the need for its conservation and sustainable development. Hans Guttman CEO Mekong River Commission Secretariat iii Fish and fishing activities, drawn on the gate and walls of Wat Xieng Thong in Luang Prabang (built in 1560), indicate the historic importance of fisheries in the traditional livelihoods of Lao people. iv Contents Acronyms, Abbreviations and Lao Words ........................................................................1 Summary .......................... ....................................................................................................3 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................... 5 2. Water resources ecosystems and fisheries .....................................................................9 2.1 Physical landforms of Lao PDR ................................................................................9 2.2 Water resources related to fisheries and aquatic biodiversity ..................................11 2.3 Fish and freshwater aquatic biodiversity in Lao PDR .............................................19 2.3.1 Ecosystem diversity.......................................................................................19 2.3.2 Species diversity ............................................................................................19 2.3.3 Fish species suitable for stocking and for aquaculture ..................................23 3. The socio-economic importance of fisheries in Lao PDR ..........................................25 3.1 Importance of fishes for rural livelihoods and food security ...................................25 3.2 Consumption and market exploitation of fishes ......................................................27 3.3 The status of fisheries ..............................................................................................32 3.3.1 The Mekong and main tributaries .................................................................33 3.3.2 Large hydropower reservoirs ........................................................................35 3.3.3 Small water bodies ........................................................................................35 3.3.4 Wet-season rice-fields....................................................................................37 3.3.5 Aquaculture production systems ...................................................................39 4. Fisheries research and management interventions ....................................................41 4.1 Research institutions and their collaborations .........................................................42 4.2 Research and development issues ............................................................................45 4.3 Government management interventions ..................................................................45 5. Challenges faced by fisheries sector .............................................................................47 6. Conclusion .......... ...........................................................................................................49 7. References ........... ..........................................................................................................51 v Maps: Map 1: Topography and rivers of Lao PDR ....................................................................2 Map 2: Land cover of Lao PDR ......................................................................................4 Map 3: Wetlands of Lao PDR..........................................................................................6 Map 4: Some important deep pools in the Mekong River, Lao PDR ............................12 Tables: Table 1: Structure of inland fisheries in Lao PDR and estimated production 2007 ........13 Table 2: Estimated per capita consumption of fish and other aquatic animals in Lao PDR .......................................................................................................27 Table 3: Reported consumption in Lao PDR 2002/03, NSC (2004) ..............................29 Table 4: Nam Ngum actual catch estimates (tonnes) from 1982 and 1998 ....................35 Annexs: Annex 1: Estimates of area of wetland in the Lower Mekong Basin from MRC GIS database 1992-1998 ..............................................................55 Annex 2: Comparison of conversion factors for preserved fish to FWAEs in LMB ..........................................................................................55 Annex 3: Conversion factors for edible portions of OAAs and percentage of protein in edible portions ............................................................................56 Annex 4: Yields estimated by different sources of information .....................................56 vi Acronyms, Abbreviations and Lao Words ACIAR Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research ADB Asian Development Bank AIT Asian Institute of Technology AIMS Aquaculture of Indigenous Mekong Fish Species Project AQIP Aquaculture Improvement and Extension Project CPUE Catch Per Unit Effort Danida Danish International Development Agency DLF Department of Livestock and Fisheries (Lao PDR) DLV Department of Livestock and Veterinary Services DOF Department of Forestry DOI Department of Irrigation EIA Environmental Impact Assessment FWAEs Fresh Whole Animal Equivalent Weights FAO Food and Agriculture Organization FIA Fisheries Impact Assessment GIS Geographic Information Systems ICLARM International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management (now WorldFish Center) IDRC International Development Research Center IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature JICA Japan International