Lien's Poster Proposal

The effects of fishing activities to sustainable development of aquatic biodiversity in the Mekong watershed in Cambodia

Fish gives important food and major income for Cambodians living in Tonle Sap Lake and Mekong River. Fishing activities in Cambodia can be classified into two categories: limited access fisheries consisting of large-scale fishing, and open access fishing consisting of middle-scale and small-scale fishing (Keskimen, 2003).

Before the year 1990, the population by the rivers was lower, people use sustainable fishing gears (no electro-fishing), there were more habitats for fish to breed and water depths in the water bodies were deeper. Thus, one family could catch up to 20kg fish per day. After 1990 both the quantity of fish and the amount of fish species have decreased due to the use of illegal fishing gears such as explosives, poisons, and electric fishers, shallower water depth due to sedimentation, over-fishing, loss of flooded forest cover, water contamination and population growth. At the moment, one family can catch only 1-2kg fish per day.

The purpose of this poster is to explore the effects of fishing activities to sustainable development of aquatic biodiversity in the Mekong region in Cambodia.

Draft of poster

Sources:

Heinonen, U. 2004. Integrated and socially just water resources management in lower Mekong River region and Cambodia - How to control water related rural push?. Helsinki University of Technology, 171(+ 3).

Varis, O., Kummu, M., Keskinen, M., Sarkkula, J., Koponen, J., Heinonen, U., & Makkonen, K. 2006. Tonle Sap Lake, Cambodia: Nature's affluence meets human poverty. Case Study for 2006 HDR.