1 Status of Aquatic Status of Aquatic Biodiversity in the Biodiversity in the Mekong Mekong The Second Module of the BDP/MDBC Training The Second Module of the BDP/MDBC Training Course Course 21 21 st st May 2003 May 2003 The Mekong River Commission Secretariat Annexes The Mekong River Commission Secretariat Annexes
Status of Aquatic Biodiversity in the Mekong. The Second Module of the BDP/MDBC Training Course 21 st May 2003 The Mekong River Commission Secretariat Annexes. “..the Mekong River Basin and the related natural resources and environment are natural assets of immense value…” - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Status of Aquatic Status of Aquatic Biodiversity in the Biodiversity in the
MekongMekong
The Second Module of the BDP/MDBC Training The Second Module of the BDP/MDBC Training CourseCourse
2121stst May 2003 May 2003
The Mekong River Commission Secretariat The Mekong River Commission Secretariat AnnexesAnnexes
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“..the Mekong River Basin and
the related natural resources and environment are natural assets
of immense value…”
1995 Mekong Agreement
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Upper Mekong Basin (UMB)
• China• Myanmar
- 18% of total flow
Lower Mekong Basin (LMB)
• Laos• Thailand• Cambodia• Viet Nam
- 82% of total flow
Mekong Mekong River BasinRiver Basin
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• Mountains of the north and east
Main geographic Main geographic regions of LMBregions of LMB
Capture fisheries outlookCapture fisheries outlookCapture fisheries outlookCapture fisheries outlook
Threats from within the sector: Use of habitat destructive fishing
methods Unsustainable fishing practices:
- fishing in sensitive areas- fishing at sensitive times- targetting juveniles
Badly considered species introductions
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Capture fisheries outlookCapture fisheries outlookCapture fisheries outlookCapture fisheries outlook
Threats from outside the sector: Habitat alterations Physical barriers to fish migration Changes in quality and quantity of water
in sensitive habitats (pollution/flooding) The fisheries ”message” does not get
across to planners in more powerful sectors
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WMD Impacts and WMD Impacts and MitigationMitigation
WMD Impacts and WMD Impacts and MitigationMitigation
Direct impacts on fish passage, barrier effect Fishways, or other fish passage measures
Water quality effects due to stratification, toxicity and reduced productivity Destratification or multi-level offtakes
Hydrological impacts, impacts on fish behaviour, habitat etc. Riparian flows, regulating ponds
Trapping of nutrients, organic material and sediment, loss of productivity Not mitigated at present, Research Needed
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MITIGATION OF EFFECTS OF WATER MANAGEMENT ON FISHERIES
Structures: Dams, dikes, weirs, reservoirs
Problems for fisheries:Dams: Hindrance to fish migrations, Reservoirs: Still water body, anoxic bottom conditions,
rapidly changing water levelDownstream: Anoxic water outlet, changed water
temperature, lack of sediment, etc.Potential Effect:
Loss of income, employment and food security, biodiversity.
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AIR BUBBLING SYSTEM
(Champagne Method)
Destratification of reservoirs
North Pine Reservoir
Area: 22 Km2,
Depth: 35 meter
MITIGATION METHODS:Downstream effects: Changed water intake to turbines;In-reservoir: Bubbling systems
Improved management of water level, etc.Passing the dam: Fishways
Diffusers
Pump house
Dam
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Convention on Biological Convention on Biological DiversityDiversity
Convention on Biological Convention on Biological DiversityDiversity
“Prevent the introduction of, control or eradicate those alien species which threaten ecosystems, habitats or species” (article 8 h)
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FAO - Responsible FisheriesFAO - Responsible FisheriesFAO - Responsible FisheriesFAO - Responsible Fisherieso Precautionary approacho Impacts of introductions often
irreversible and unpredictableo “…the introduction of aquatic organisms
for aquaculture should be considered as a purposeful introduction into the wild…”
o Minimise risk of environmental effects
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Present StatusPresent StatusPresent StatusPresent Status
o Valid ecosystem concernso Adequate legal instruments,
policies and recommendations
o Incomplete implementationo Need to enhance
implementation and monitoring
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Present StatusPresent StatusPresent StatusPresent Status
o Existing knowledge needs to be consolidated
o Capacity to implement is asymmetric
o Implementation of policies needs support and monitoring
o Institutional cooperation through Networking
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Issues for BDPIssues for BDP
• Achieving sustainability will require Achieving sustainability will require an integrated approach to managing an integrated approach to managing water, land, and ecosystemswater, land, and ecosystems
• Protecting ecosystems requires Protecting ecosystems requires integrating biodiversity conservation integrating biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management into local and ecosystem management into local and national economiesand national economies
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Issues for BDPIssues for BDP
• Participatory ecosystem-based Participatory ecosystem-based catchment management is a catchment management is a fundamentally new approach to using, fundamentally new approach to using, developing, and conserving water developing, and conserving water resourcesresources
• Allowing ecosystems to perform their Allowing ecosystems to perform their functions requires that users let certain functions requires that users let certain amounts of water stay within the amounts of water stay within the ecosystemsecosystems
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MITIGATION
Passing the dam: Fishways
Vertical slot fishway, 7m
5,000 per 24 hrs
Fish lift, 15 m
3,800 fish per 24 hrs
Tonle Sap River
50,000 fish per minute
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Chumnarn PongsriChumnarn Pongsri
Mekong River Commission SecretariatMekong River Commission Secretariat