Mekong River Commission

The overall goal of the Fisheries Programme is the sustainable development, utilisation, management and conservation of the fisheries of the Mekong basin. This will be achieved by:

• building awareness of the size and value of the fisheries and their place in the socio-economic fabric of the riparian countries
• developing the technical and managerial capacity of national fisheries agencies and the MRC
• conceiving and implementing a basin-wide plan to ensure the fisheries resources are developed in a socially fair and environmentally responsible manner.

Through these processes the Fisheries Programme conforms to the broader vision of the MRC, namely, 'an economically prosperous, socially just and environmentally sound Mekong River Basin'. In order to do this it will take full account of the social issues of, poverty alleviation, environmental sustainability, good governance, social justice, gender equity and conflict mitigation.

Poverty alleviation: About one third of the population of the basin live in poverty. Fisheries play a vitial role providing food security and hard income for many impoverished rural families. A prime objective of the Fisheries Programme is to ensure these people can continue to rely on this resource. This can be achieved through better fisheries management and improved aquaculture techniques.

Environmental sustainability: A healthy Mekong means healthy fisheries. Conservation of critical habitats, such as wetlands and deep pools, is the key to maintaining robust fish stocks. The Fisheries Programme fosters conservation by increasing the awareness of users and the national fisheries agencies of environmental issues and promoting responsible fishing practices.

Good governance: This is essential if the resources of the Mekong are to be developed equitably. The Fisheries Programme works closely with fishing communities and government agencies to enhance co-management of local fisheries.

Social justice: The fisheries are an open resource across much of the basin. Many poor rural communities depend on free access to this resource for their livelihoods. Any activity, in the fisheries or beyond, that cuts off or limits this access presents a major challenge to their well-being. The Fisheries Programme aims to limit this threat by communicating information on fisheries to a broad audience and by acting as the interface between fisheries and other development sectors.

Gender equity: The Fisheries Programme aims to ensure the equitable allocation of power and resources to women and men so that both can share in the benefits of the Mekong's fisheries as meets their particular needs.

Conflict mitigation: The Mekong fisheries are a common property resource. This can lead to conflict at many levels, between local fishers and lot owners, between dai owners and other commercial fisheries, between the various competing users of reservoirs and other water bodies, potentially even between nations. The Fisheries Programme supports many activities which directly, or indirectly, help mitigate these conflicts. These range from promoting equable resource management at community level to sponsoring forums, like the Technical Advisory Body for Fisheries Management, where senior fisheries administrators can discuss fisheries issues with regional or trans-boundary implications.