Fisheries, aquaculture and stock enhancement in Lao PDR Item Type book_section Authors Choudara, Hanh Publisher Aquaculture Department, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center Download date 01/10/2021 19:42:59 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/1834/40485 Fisheries, aquaculture and stock enhancement in Lao PDR Choudara, Hanh Date published: 2006 To cite this document : Choudara, H. (2006). Fisheries, aquaculture and stock enhancement in Lao PDR. In J. H. Primavera, E. T. Quinitio, & M. R. R. Eguia (Eds.), Proceedings of the Regional Technical Consultation on Stock Enhancement for Threatened Species of International Concern, Iloilo City, Philippines, 13-15 July 2005 (pp. 103–108). Tigbauan, Iloilo, Philippines: Aquaculture Department, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center. To link to this document : http://hdl.handle.net/10862/2938 Share on : PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE FULL TEXT This content was downloaded from SEAFDEC/AQD Institutional Repository (SAIR) - the official digital repository of scholarly and research information of the department Downloaded by: [Anonymous] On: January 30, 2019 at 10:59 PM CST Follow us on: Facebook | Twitter | Google Plus | Instagram Library & Data Banking Services Section | Training & Information Division Aquaculture Department | Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) Tigbauan, Iloilo 5021 Philippines | Tel: (63-33) 330 7088, (63-33) 330 7000 loc 1340 | Fax: (63-33) 330 7088 Website: www.seafdec.org.ph | Email: [email protected] Copyright © 2011-2015 SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department. Fisheries, Aquaculture and Stock Enhancement in Lao PDR Hanh Choudara Department of Livestock and Fisheries Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Lao PDR Introduction dietary protein of Lao people comes from living aquatic resources which are important Fisheries development in Lao PDR is for food security of the nation. confined to inland fisheries development and sustainable freshwater aquaculture including Endangered Species culture-enhanced capture fisheries and fishery- in Fisheries enhanced aquaculture. Given the potential of water, wetland and aquatic resources and According to Article 18 of the Regulation the magnitude of decline in fish catches from of the National Conservation Forest, Aquatic on January 30, 2019 at 10:59 PM CST the Mekong River and its tributaries, the Animal and Wildlife (Reference No. 0524/ Government of Lao PDR has given priority MAF.2001, 7 June 2001), endangered aquatic to fisheries development with strong concern animals and wildlife in Lao PDR are classified for sustainable aquaculture. The overall into two categories: policy framework is therefore geared toward the sustainable use, appropriate management 1) Protected species – rare aquatic animals and protection of natural resources: forest, and terrestrial wildlife with high conservation land and water resource including aquatic value, importance and usefulness to society biodiversity. The national goal for fisheries (Table 1). Fishing and hunting of protected http://repository.seafdec.org.ph development during the last decade was species are prohibited for all seasons. focused on how to increase fish production from aquaculture while maintaining capture 2) Controlled species – rare aquatic animals fisheries, recognizing that about 50% of the and wildlife whose populations are threatened Table 1. List of protected freshwater species. Lao name English name Scientific name Downloaded by [Anonymous] from Pa kha Irrawaddy dolphin Orcaella brevirostris Pa phalay Sting ray Dasyatis laosensis Pa kouang Croaker Boesemania microlepis Pa beuk Giant catfish Pangasianodon gigas Pa leum Pangasius sanitwongsei Pa seua Tiger perch Datnioides pulcher Pa laifaitfa Electric eel Anguilla marmorata Pa meo Setipinna melanochir Pa eun khao Thicklip barb Probarbus labeamajor Pa bou Gobies Oxyeleotris marmorata Pa kheung Hemibagrus wykoides 104 Stock Enhancement in Lao PDR Table 2. List of controlled freshwater species. Lao name English name Scientific name Pa souay Pangasius Pangasius krempfi Pa fa ong Freshwater turtle Amyda spp. Pa khoun Wallago marmorata Pa deng Tor spp. Pa nang deng Hemisilurus Pa phone Cirrhinus microlepis Pa makway Luciosoma spp. Pa keng Cirrhinus molitorella with extinction. People can use these species 3) No dolphin management committee for home consumption but not for large scale 4) Use of gill nets (all mesh sizes) harvesting or trade. Fishing and hunting are 5) Overfishing and increase in number of not allowed during the breeding season. fishers (especially large scale commer- cial fisheries) There is insufficient information regarding 6) Use of explosives on January 30, 2019 at 10:59 PM CST the current status of the protected and controlled 7) Shallowing of deep pools due to sedi- aquatic species in Lao PDR. Many are most mentation and habitat change likely in critical status, while others may require a 8) Water pollution from oil and mining review of their conservation status. Based on Tables 1 and 2, only three species are included 9) Noise problems created by fast boats in the CITES list: Orcaella brevirostris (Pa kha), 10) Natural death and disease Pangasianodon gigas (Pa beuk) and Probarbus labeamajor (Pa eun khao). Status of Seed Production Technology http://repository.seafdec.org.ph Why endangered? of Freshwater Species With the country’s vast water resources, Aquaculture development in Lao PDR a large number of indigenous species is has been a tradition with lessons learned from present within the different ecosystems. The neighboring China, Vietnam and Thailand. The Mekong River and its tributaries have been seed farms were built in many provincial capitals heavily fished resulting in the decline and especially in Vientiane, Savannakhet, Pakse, endangered status of many species espe- Sayeboury, Louang Prabang, Houaphanh, cially the Mekong River Irrawaddy dolphin Downloaded by [Anonymous] from Xiengkhouang and Oudomxay. As of 2001, at the Cambodia-Lao PDR transboundary there were 30 existing hatcheries (17 govern- pool. The Government of Lao is a CITES ment-managed and 13 privately run farms), member and retains internationally important and 9 are under construction. This will be the populations of many declining and other- wise threatened species. basic infrastructure for expansion of aquacul- ture in the near future. The causes for declining species are as follows: Broodstock development and management 1) Illegal fishing (electro-fishing and no seasonal fishing) The basic element of profitable fish pro- 2) Harassment from tourist, fishing and duction is sufficient and good quality breeding passenger boats in the dolphin areas material including brood fish, eggs, larvae, Stock Enhancement in Lao PDR 105 fry and fingerlings for supply to the farmers. management. Fisheries management func- The important parts of broodstock manage- tions have been decentralized and local ment are: authorities have been assigned to ensure the conservation of natural resources and 1) Procurement, development, rearing and development of fish farming. Local authori- maintaining of broodstock ties are responsible for promoting public 2) Provision of optimal living conditions awareness on the adverse impacts of illegal for broodstock and young and destructive fishing gears, sustainable 3) Selection and basic genetic improvement exploitation, use of indigenous fish and non- of broodstock carnivorous species, and the careful use of 4) Preparation of spawners for reproduction exotic species in aquaculture. 5) Development of breeding program and providing good quality seeds to the Fisheries management measures have been farmers enforced by local authorities and communities themselves with many prejudices, conflicts Broodstock management as a substan- and problems. It was due to unverified tial component of fish farming depends on scientific information responding to the hatchery managers, technicians and fish farm- causes of the problems at the grassroots level. ers who maintain, select, and produce the For this reason, the Prime Ministerial Decree on January 30, 2019 at 10:59 PM CST broodfish. Hatchery managers should take 118 (5 October 1989) concerning the man- care of all the responsibility of breeding work. agement and conservation of terrestrial and Environmental conditions during rearing also aquatic animals, as well as regulation of fish- strongly determine the spawning potential of ing and hunting activities, was declared and broodfish, feeding management and handling enforced. methods. At present, regulatory policies for aqua- Nursery systems culture and fisheries have not been formu- http://repository.seafdec.org.ph lated. There is a need to establish appropriate The recommended stocking rate for one- laws in aquatic resource management, devel- week old fish fry commonly cultured in the opment and research in the country. country are 400-500/m2 in earthen ponds (more then 60 cm water depth) and 250/m2 in Stock Enhancement cement tanks (more than 50 cm water depth). Fish fry are stocked at these densities for up With the increase in economic develop- to one month or until they reach a size of 2-3 ment and growth in both domestic and cm, after which densities are reduced since regional trade, the demand for fish has like- competition for food and space will increase wise increased. It is believed that increased Downloaded by [Anonymous] from quickly, and growth and survival of the fry production from capture fisheries may not could decline. Once the fry reach 2-3 cm, be possible, so it has to come