Employing Geographical Information Systems in Fisheries Management in the Mekong River: a Case Study of Lao PDR

Employing Geographical Information Systems in Fisheries Management in the Mekong River: a Case Study of Lao PDR

Employing Geographical Information Systems in Fisheries Management in the Mekong River: a case study of Lao PDR Kaviphone Phouthavongs A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the Degree of Master of Science School of Geosciences University of Sydney June 2006 ABSTRACT The objective of this research is to employ Geographical Information Systems to fisheries management in the Mekong River Basin. The study uses artisanal fisheries practices in Khong district, Champasack province Lao PDR as a case study. The research focuses on integrating indigenous and scientific knowledge in fisheries management; how local communities use indigenous knowledge to access and manage their fish conservation zones; and the contribution of scientific knowledge to fishery co-management practices at village level. Specific attention is paid to how GIS can aid the integration of these two knowledge systems into a sustainable management system for fisheries resources. Fieldwork was conducted in three villages in the Khong district, Champasack province and Catch per Unit of Effort / hydro-acoustic data collected by the Living Aquatic Resources Research Centre was used to analyse and look at the differences and/or similarities between indigenous and scientific knowledge which can supplement each other and be used for small scale fisheries management. The results show that GIS has the potential not only for data storage and visualisation, but also as a tool to combine scientific and indigenous knowledge in digital maps. Integrating indigenous knowledge into a GIS framework can strengthen indigenous knowledge, from un processed data to information that scientists and decision-makers can easily access and use as a supplement to scientific knowledge in aquatic resource decision-making and planning across different levels. The results show that when scientific and indigenous knowledge are both stored digitally in GIS databases, a variety of analysis can be done. Multiple layers or visualising functions in ArcGIS are an example of ways in which indigenous and scientific knowledge can be combined in GIS. Maps of deep pools and important fishing grounds gathered using GPS and indigenous knowledge provide base maps of aquatic resources in the study area. The attribute table associated with the map links characteristics of each point, including fishing gear and species found in each pool as well as spawning grounds and migration periods. This information is useful for management and planning purposes. i This research illustrates that mental maps and GIS digital maps can be used for fisheries management at different levels. Where mental maps are suitable for communicating with the local community and have the potential for use in fisheries co-management in small-scale fisheries; GIS may be appropriated for data storage and analysis at provincial and national levels, it can be used as a communication tool amongst stakeholders to monitor and understand the aquatic environment. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I would like to thank the DANIDA/NARI project for providing financial support for this research. Special thanks must go to Mr. Xaypradeth Choulamany, former Director of LARReC and the present Director Mr. Lieng Khamsivilay, for their support and for giving me the opportunity to do this research. Thanks also to Mr. Sten Sverdrup-Jensen, Technical Advisor, NARI Project, for encouraging to me to continue with my studies. At the University of Sydney, I would like to thank my supervisor Associate Professor Dr. Philip Hirsch and associate supervisor Dr. Eleanor Bruce for their advice and guidance in helping me go in the right direction. Thanks also to Simon, Krishna, and Cameron for their comments and suggestions on my thesis. Thanks to Jagbir Singh for being kind and friendly and to Joan Schreijaeg for offering help and reading my thesis. Back home, I would like to thank my colleagues at the Living Aquatic Resources Research Centre for helping me by providing and sending information related to my research. Thanks to Sinthavong, Kongpheng and John for correcting the scientific names of fish, and also Douangkham and Chanthone for providing information on CPUE and deep pools. Thanks to Terry for his wise discussion of the CPUE study. Thanks also goes to government officials in the Champasack province and the Khong district who provided assistance to me with my field research. Special thanks must go to the village headmen and fishermen who made their time available to me for discussion and who provided me with useful information, as well as a place to sleep and excellent Lao food during my fieldwork. Without their help, this research could not have been completed. Last but not least, I wish to thank my family, especially my wife, who has taken great care of my sons during my study time in Australia. I would also like to acknowledge my father, Tout Phouthavongs, who continues to work hard to support our family and provide the opportunity for all of us to study. I am not the only one who has a chance to study at the Masters level in Australia. My brothers also graduated and received their Masters degrees in Australia in 1992 and 1998. Thank you Dad. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract........................................................................................................................................... i Acknowledgement ........................................................................................................................iii Table of contents........................................................................................................................... iv List of figures................................................................................................................................ ix List of tables................................................................................................................................... x Acronyms...................................................................................................................................... xi Chapter I: Introduction............................................................................................................... 1 1.1 General introduction ................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Background and rational.......................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Research objective and questions ............................................................................................6 1.4 Research design and methods .................................................................................................. 6 1.4.1 Research design................................................................................................................... 6 1.4.2 Methodology ....................................................................................................................... 7 1.4.2.1 Secondary data collection………………………………………………………...7 1.4.2.2 Village stay and observation……………………………………………………...8 1.4.2.3 Semi structure open-ended interview…………………………………………….8 1.4.2.4 Qualitative questionnaire design……………………………………………….…9 1.4.3 Research village ... ………………………………………………………………………..9 1.4.4 Fieldwork methods and data collection……………………………..…………………...10 1.4.4.1 Field data collection……………………………………………………………..10 1.4.4.2 Mental mapping and global positioning system………………………………...12 1.5 Outline of thesis ..................................................................................................................... 13 Chapter II: Knowledge systems................................................................................................ 20 2.1 Introduction............................................................................................................................ 20 2.2 Indigenous knowledge ........................................................................................................... 20 iv 4.3 Fisheries co-management....................................................................................................... 25 2.4 Catch Per Unit of Effort and Hydro Acoustic Study ............................................................. 30 2.4.1 Catch Per Unit of Effort …………………………………………………………..30 2.4.2 Hydro acoustic study……………………………………………………………...31 2.5 GIS and natural resource management .................................................................................. 33 2.6 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 37 Chapter III: The Mekong River Fisheries............................................................................... 39 3.1 Introduction............................................................................................................................ 39 3.2 The importance of fisheries to the people in the Lower Mekong River Basin ...................... 39 3.3 Capture fisheries and aquaculture development .................................................................... 41 3.4 Laos fisheries profile.............................................................................................................. 43 3.5 Fisheries of Khong District.................................................................................................... 46 3.6 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................

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