Local Knowledge in the Study of River Fish Biology: Experiences from the Mekong

The opinions and interpretations expressed within are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Mekong River Commission. 4 FOREWORD The Lower Mekong Basin, covering major areas of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, is a region of dynamic change and growth. Reports in the Mekong Development Series closely examine aspects of change and development in the river basin for an audience of researchers, planners, community development workers and the interested public. Sustainable management of water and related resources is at the heart of the Mekong River Commission's work. This report, therefore, is a fitting start to the Mekong Development Series, as it presents research undertaken within the Mekong River Commission's Fisheries Programme, which has the objective of " coordinated and sustainable management, use and development of the economic and nutritional potential of the inland living aquatic resources in the Mekong River Basin ". The Fisheries Programme has greatly increased our knowledge of fish resources-the huge number of species, their impressive seasonal migrations, the importance of habitats for breeding, feeding and dry season shelter and their interdependence with the vast Mekong floodplains as well as developing fisheries management systems to ensure the availability of this resource for future generations. Ultimately it is this knowledge and appreciation of the natural wealth of the Mekong River Basin that will drive all efforts to sustain the health of the basin for the good of all people. The Mekong Development Series aims to disseminate that knowledge and appreciation as widely as possible. 5 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors wish to thank the many fishing communities and people along the Mekong River who have generously provided their time and expertise to this study. Particular acknowledgement is extended to the " expert fishermen " who shared their detailed knowledge of fish migrations with us. The work reported here has been undertake within the Assessment of Mekong Fisheries (AMF) component of the Mekong River Commission's Fisheries Programme. AMF is based in the research centres listed below. The ongoing support of the managerial, administrative, technical and support staff at these centres for the work of the MRC Fisheries Programme is great appreciated. SUMMARY Since 1997 the Fisheries Programme of the Mekong River Commission has been accessing local knowledge in the Lower Mekong Basin. The objective of the study is to provide life-cycle information about important Mekong fish species, particularly in relation to migration and spawning. This …