Developing Participatory Fisher Surveys to Monitor Fish Catch in the Mekong River Basin: Results of Pilot Study in Lao P.D.R.

Developing Participatory Fisher Surveys to Monitor Fish Catch in the Mekong River Basin: Results of Pilot Study in Lao P.D.R.

Shaara Ainsley, Sinsamout Ounboundisane, Erin Louryand Harmony Patricio

Fisher in Mekong River near spawning habitat of endangered Probarbus species

Mekong River Basin

• Home to more than 850 species of fishes

• Provides food for 60 million people in six countries

• Inland and transboundary fishery

• Subsistence & commercial fishing

The Mekong Fish Network supports partners in the lower Mekong

River basin to advance the study and management of the region’s

unique and valuable aquatic life.

• Evolved from discussions with partners, stakeholders

• Increase and improve fisheries information by:

– Building local technical capacity

– Facilitating dialogue and collaboration

– Creating connections and provide tools

• Standard Sampling Program

– Participatory Fisher Surveys

Mekong Fish Network

Why a Participatory Approach?

Participatory Fisher Surveys

• Traditional management systems co-management• 2009 Lao Fisheries Law: Committees for the Management of Fisheries in

Bodies of Water• To “collect annual statistics related to fisheries”

Pilot Study Goals

Primary: Evaluate standard sampling protocols for biologicalmonitoring of fisheries

Secondary: Species of Interest• Jullien’s golden carp (Probarbus jullieni) & Thicklipped

barb (Probarbus labeamajor)• Both species are commercially valuable fish listed as

‘endangered’ on the IUCN Red List

Location of Study

Ban Ang Noi:Population: 759 Full-time fishers: 6

Ban Sakai:Population: 986Full-time fishers: 7

Fisher Survey Methods

• Protocol development based on MRC, FAO, and others

• November - January

• 5 fishers from each village (10 total)

• Fishers maintained their normal level of fishing effort and gear choice

• Key indicators:

– Catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE)

– Species richness

– Maximum fish length by species

Methods: Two-day Training Course for Fisher Technicians

Fishers were trained in basic fish catch data collection techniques

• Fishers reported using:

– bottom longlines (bet piak join)

– gill nets (mong)

– cast nets (he)

– drop-door basket traps (jun)

• Primary gear type and fish species composition differed between villages

• Fishers reported more than 54 species (40 genera) in a three-month period

Summary of Pilot Study Preliminary Results

Results: Number of individuals in Catch – Ban Ang Noi

ATRU = Amblyrhynchichthys truncatusAve. Max = 12 cm SL

FiMSeA (http://ffish.asia)

89%

Gill nets were 66% of gear reported

Results: Number of individuals in Catch – Ban Sakai

FiMSeA (http://ffish.asia)

BAGA = Bagarius spp. (example Bagarius bagarius)Ave. Max = 23 cm SL

44%Longlines were 57% of gear reported

Results: Target Species Catch

Probarbus spp.

• 22 individuals were reported (11 - 89 cm standard length)

• Caught throughout the study period

• 86% reported by fishers from Ban Ang Noi

– These fishers used nets more often than Ban Sakai

Conclusions

• Heterogeneous fisheries practices (dynamic system)

• Engaged fishers in collection of information relevant to co-management

• Fisher involvement enhances stewardship of fisheries resources

• Confirmed juvenile and mature adult Probarbus in catch

• Pilot effort assessment of protocols identified strengths and weaknesses

Protocol Assessment - Strengths

• Fishers consistently recorded effort for unsuccessful fishing trips

• Obtained species composition and gear use data for the fishery in two villages

• Obtained basic information on endangered Probarbus species

Protocol Assessment - Opportunities for Improvement

• Fishers reported confusion over some aspects of data collection (esp. fishing effort)

• Involve the fisher technicians in datasheet design

• Focused only on wild-capture fishing methods predominately performed by male fishers in the region

Future Directions

• Locally - Sangthong District:

Establishing formal co-management regulations

Establishing, enforcing, and monitoring fish conservation zones

Continue monitoring their fishery harvest levels

• Regionally - Mekong Fish Network:

Step back from standard sampling program development focus more on capacity building and facilitating collaborations

H

Thank you to The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund and FISHBIO for funding this study

and to David Hewitt (USGS), and Chrissy Sonke.

A special thanks the villagers of Ban Sakai and Ban AngNoi and the DAFO staff of Sangthong District

Thank You!

Funding Provided by:

Thank You.

Shaara Ainsley

[email protected]

Developing Participatory Fisher Surveys to Monitor Fish Catch in the Mekong River BasinSubmitted Abstract

Over 60 million people depend on fish from the Mekong River and its tributaries for protein, and many engage in small-scale subsistence or commercial fishing. Accessible information on these small-scale Mekong fisheries is essential for developing better estimates of their scope and scale, as well as assessing their contribution to the economy and food security. FISHBIO has been developing a participatory standard fish sampling program as part of a collaborative effort to form a Mekong Fish Network among several organizations. The objective of the program is regular, long-term collection of basic fishery-dependent data following robust, standardized methods, which will provide information on the status and trends of Mekong fishes. Using participatory methods engages local people in data collection and enhances their capacity to enact conservation and sustainable fisheries co-management. Information generated from this monitoring will inform resource management through village-level regulations. In 2013, FISHBIO piloted the proposed sampling protocols in two villages of Lao People’s Democratic Republic in a district where there are no existing government programs to study wild capture fisheries. Local fishers were trained to record basic data on their catch for every day they spent fishing, including species name, fish length, total biomass, gear type and fishing effort. Fishers reported more than 62 species in a three-month period, including two species of commercially valuable fish listed as “endangered” on the IUCN Red List, Probarbus jullieni and Probarbus labeamajor. We are currently evaluating the survey protocols to explore their application in other settings in the Mekong Basin.