Posted on May, 30 2007

Since December 2006, the WWF Community Fisheries Project (ComFish) has been implementing activities with government partners in Lao PDR to support community fisheries management. A key element to strengthen the food security of local livelihoods and aquatic biodiversity conservation is the establishment of fish conservation zones (FCZ). In recent months, ten new FCZs have been officially announced in two provinces of Lao PDR.

ComFish collaborates with the Department of Livestock and Fisheries (DLF), as well as Agriculture and Livestock Offices in Savannakhet and Bolikhamxay provinces to support community-based fisheries management, food security, and aquatic biodiversity conservation, and to ensure that fishery resources are sustainably managed.

Activities are underway in two tributaries of the Mekong River, the Xe Bang Hieng River in Savannakhet Province, and the Nam Mouan River, also a tributary of the Nam Kading, in Bolikhamxay Province.
 
ComFish and its partners began conducting deep pool surveys in November 2005 along the Xe Bang Hieng River and its tributaries. Now, five deep pools along this river have been announced as FCZs. With an area of approximately 120 ha, these FCZs could support food security and aquatic biodiversity to over 15,000 individuals who live in the district.
 
In Bolikhamxay, the ComFish Project assisted five villages establish FCZs along the Nam Mouan River, covering approximately 6.4 ha and supporting food security and aquatic biodiversity to over 2,000 individuals who live around the FCZs.
 
Local communities often see an increase of fish species and abundance in the FCZs within a relatively short period of time, which helps support the concept that their livelihoods will be improved through community-based, sustainable management of fisheries. The lessons learned from establishing FCZs in these two provinces can be applied to other tributaries of the Mekong River in Lao PDR.

For further information:
Noy Promsouvanh, Communications Officer
WWF Lao PDR
E-mail: noy.promsouvanh@wwfgreatermekong.org