Fishing industry in Laos
The fishing industry in the land-locked country of Laos is a major source of sustenance and food security to its people dwelling near rivers, reservoirs and ponds. Apart from wild capture fisheries, which is a major component of fish production, aquaculture and stocking are significant developments in the country. Historically, fishing activity was recorded in writings on the gate and walls of the Wat Xieng Thong in Luang Prabang dated 1560.[1] For many Laotians, freshwater fish are the principal source of protein.[2] The percentage of people involved in regular fishing activity is very small, only near major rivers or reservoirs, as for most of the fishers it is a part-time activity.[3]
Areas of fishing and production
The water resources, covering an area of more than 1.2 million ha, are a major area for on land capture fisheries accounting for production of 167,922 tonnes per year, with 75% of the population depending on this resource with fish consumption assessed at 24.5 kg per capita per year.
In Nam Ngum reservoir, which is one of the largest in the country, fishing operations are carried out throughout the year on a regular commercial basis as the closest marketing center is Vientiane. Water covered areas of Khong Island are also popular venues for fishing.[3]
Fish varieties
The fish species reported are 481, which includes 22
Aquaculture
There are four types of aquaculture practices in the country. These are: cage culture with cages made of steel frames, cages of bamboo or net or wood; rice-fish culture in irrigated areas; pond culture in small ponds created in rural areas in lowland areas, basically to meet family requirements; and the rain-fed culture in irrigated paddy lands in agricultural fields under suitable agro-climatic conditions. In cage culture the fish catches are species of
Legal framework
The current legal provisions related to fishing are contained in the Agricultural Law 1998, the Penal Law 1990, the Natural Resources and Environment Sector's legislation of the Forestry Law No. 125/NA (2 November 1996), the Environment Protection Law No. 09/NA (26 April 1999), the Water Resources Law No. 126/NA (2 November 1996) and the Aquatic and Wild Animals Law No. 07/NA (24 December 2007).[1]: 52
There is no separate law as such in the country which exclusively defines the legal aspects of inland fisheries and aquaculture. The Fisheries Section of the Technical Branch of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) has the administrative responsibility for inland fisheries and aquaculture activities, as is the practice in most countries.[4]
However, a legal framework for the purpose has been framed, unifying all existing laws, defining legal principles for the conservation and management of fisheries and aquaculture. It is drafted as an "enabling legislation" which is considered appropriate to Laos which has diverse fisheries which need flexibile and adaptive management methods. It will enable measures to be implemented at the local level in consonance with the "local realities and practices". The draft legislation has suggested a list of protected and managed species, compiled by Forestry Department, which is given in the table.[4]: 48
List of fish species proposed for inclusion in the Aquatic Animals and Wildlife Bill[4]: 51
Species | Lao Name | Scientific Name |
---|---|---|
Mekong Giant Catfish |
Pa beuk | Pangasianodon gigas |
Giant mottled eel | Pa lai fai fa | Anguilla marmorat |
Boesman Croaker | Pa goowang | Boesemania microlepis |
Giant Pangasius | Pa leum | Pangasius sanitwongsei |
Tiger perch | Pa seua | Datnioides undecimradiatus |
Tiger perch |
Pa seua | Datnioides pulcher |
Cat face fish | Pa maew Pa sanag yai |
Setipinna melanochir Aaptosyax grypus |
Laotian shad | Pa mak pang | Tenualosa thibaudeaui |
Sheatfish |
Pa koun | Wallago leerii |
Mekong stingray |
Pa fah lai | Dasyatis laosensis |
Legally fishing by using explosives has been banned in the country.[3]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g "An Introduction to the Fisheries of Lao PDR" (pdf). Mekong River Commission. pp. 4–5. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
- ^ Hopkins, Susannah. "Fishing". A country study: Laos (Andrea Matles Savada, editor). Library of Congress Federal Research Division (July 1994). This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b c d e "The Lao People's Democratic Republic:General Economic Data" (PDF). FAO Organization. November 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-05-18. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
- ^ a b c "Fisheries and aquaculture in theLao PDR – a legislative review" (pdf). FAO Organization. pp. 5, 12. Retrieved 11 November 2015.