Progress Report 2004

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Fisheries Programme

The Fisheries Programme aims to manage the productive Mekong fisheries so they can sustain their high yield and economic output well into the future.

The programme does research into capture fisheries, manages river and reservoir fisheries, promotes aquaculture of indigenous Mekong fish species and trains fisheries managers. It also disseminates a vast range of information to policy makers and planners in the four Lower Mekong countries, so stakeholders, riparian governments and the MRC can use it in development planning and management.

In 2004 the Fisheries Programme achieved some significant milestones.

• A three-year programme of capacity building in fisheries co-management was completed. This programme has now trained approximately 120 mid-to senior level management staff from line agencies and over 500 users from community groups across the four countries.
• Three basinwide studies were completed, covering catch monitoring, consumption and marketing. These studies have provided useful direction as to how to best continue with monitoring trends in fisheries yields.
  
• In the communications field the programme produced a new CD-Rom entitled Mekong Fisheries Information, published a critically acclaimed book Fishing Gears of the Cambodian Mekong, produced two new technical reports and issues of Catch and Culturein both English and the four riparian languages.
  
• The Technical Advisory Body for Fisheries Management has commenced implementation of a threeyear work plan under a funding arrangement with Swedish International Development Assistance. This will provide a sharper focus for transboundary fisheries management initiatives.

The current phase of the Fisheries Programme ends in December 2005, but a funding commitment from the Danish Government aid agency Danida will enable a new five-year Phase II to commence in 2006, upon final approval by Danida. However, other donors will be required for the full implementation of the programme