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dam-l LS: MRC activities - fisheries and environment
AMRN Item 10/2000
17 March, 2000
Two Recent Press Reports of MRC Activities
1. "DENMARK SUPPORTS MEKONG RIVER BASIN FISHERIES"
"A signing ceremony took place on February 8 for an agreement between
the Danish Government and the Mekong River Commission (MRC) on the
management of reservoir fisheries in the Mekong River basin to which
Denmark is contributing US$4.5 million. The agreement was signed by
Danish Embassy (Bangkok) Counsellor Clause Mongensen and MRC
Secretariat Chief Executive Officer Joern Kristensen.
Phase 2 of the four-year programme will start in March, and operate in
all the Mekong River Commission member countries : Laos, Vietnam,
Cambodia and Thailand. It will develop, test and introduce a model
co-management plan for reservoir fisheries, and develop a strategy
adaptable for use in the member countries. The plan is to enable the
various stakeholders to manage the reservoirs on national, provincial,
and local levels, so ('for'?) the rural fishing community. The
project also aims to achieve the highest possible sustainable fish
production from existing water bodies.
Reservoirs present an option for increasing fish yields beyond capture
fisheries. Although reservoirs are built for hydropower or irrigation, they
nrvertheless present a valuable fisheries resource which in an
environmentally sustainable manner can counterbalance potentially negative
effects of dam construction.
Mr Kristensen said that fish are a major source for animal protein in the
diet, and with rice form a basic diet for 60 million people living in the
lower Mekong basin. 'To sustain consumption of fish per capita, it is
estimated that the total fish product must increase by approximately 20,000
tonnes per year', he added. He said that there are over 1,300 different
species of fish caught in the lower Mekong River Basin, and the annual
catch has a rural retail value of approximately US$ 800 million. 'Proper
management of this resource is of critical importance for sustainable
development of the Mekong River Basin'.
The three-year Phase 1, also financed by Denmark, involved activities
in the Lao PDR's Nam Ngum Reservoir, as well as in Thailand's
Sirindthorn Reservoir and Vietnam's Central Highlands." (from
"Vientiane Times" 7, 15, 22-24 February, 2000).
2. "MRC SUPPORTS MEKONG ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION"
"How to prevent the degrading of the Mekong River environment was the
main matter on the agenda of a Consultant Meeting 17-18 February (in
Vientiane), held by the Mekong River Commission Secretariat (MRCS) and
Lao National Mekong Committee (LNMC). The meeting was to reorganise
and to give new directions to the environment programme to meet the
needs of the region.
'This is the first consultation meeting on the environment programme
and it will continue annually to reassess activities. This year we are
discussing developments that will affect the water of the Mekong River
which flows through Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand' said the
Chief of Phnom Penh-based Environment Unit, MRCS, Dr Jean
Lacoursiere."
(first part of a report by Chanthavisouk, "Vientiane Times", 7,
16,25-28 February, 2000) The remainder of the report outlined the
objectives of the MRC and its programme activities, ending with
mention of the World Bank's GEF grant of US$ 11 million to the MRC,
announced on 14 February....see AMRN Item 7/2000).
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