In this issue, our biggest ever, we look at how fisheries emerged as a key issue at a regional conference on hydropower development convened by the MRC in Vientiane in September. We also review a meeting of independent experts that immediately preceded the conference to examine the barrier impacts of dams on fish migration in the Mekong.

The group of 17 experts from various disciplines found that mainstream dams in the Lower Mekong Basin would adversely affect the migratory fish, especially in the lower part of the basin where fish production is highest. A separate article looks at three different approaches to estimating the size of migratory fish resources in the lower basin.

Table of Contents

  1. Editorial
  2. Fish migration emerges as key issue at regionalhydropower conference
  3. Mainstream dams proposed in the Lower Mekong Basin
  4. Mainstream dams as barriers to fish migration: international learning and implications for the Mekong
  5. SHow much of the Mekong fish catch is at risk from mainstream dam development?
  6. Wild population of Mekong giant catfish faces new challenge
  7. Floods and the Mekong River system (Part 3)
  8. Tonle Sap Basin Authority takes shape
  9. Promoting gender issues at the Fisheries Department in Thailand
  10. New field guide for the delta
  11. Assessing water quality
  12. Mekong Fisheries Index

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About Catch and Culture

Catch and Culture is published three times a year by the Mekong River Commission Secretariat in Vientiane, Lao PDR, and distributed to over 650 subscribers around the world. Free email subscriptions are available through the MRC website, www.mrcmekong.org.

For information on the cost of hard-copy subscriptions, contact the MRC's Documentation Centre at doc.centre@mrcmekong.org

Contributions

Contributions to Catch and Culture may be sent to mrcs@mrcmekong.org

© Mekong River Commission 2008

Editorial Panel

Editor: Peter Starr

  • Dr Chris Barlow, Fisheries Programme Manager
  • Dr Suchart Ingthamjitr, Fisheries Programme Officer
  • Mr Kaviphone Phouthavongs, Fisheries Programme Officer

Design and cover illustration: Phannavanh Anoulack

Disclaimer

The opinions and interpretation expressed within are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Mekong River Commission