Agriculture and fishing
Fishing, fisheries and aquaculture
Officials to meet on Mekong crisis as fishing communities suffer
On Cambodia’s Tonle Sap, record low water levels have plunged fishing communities into crisis but with warnings of “severe drought”, there are concerns the situation will get even worse. “Every day we can only find about one or two kilogrammes (two or four pounds) of fish, ...
Leonie Kijewski
The Lake That Feeds The Mekong Basin Is Facing A Shortage Of Fish
In the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, where the Tonle Sap and Mekong rivers meet, workers are putting the final touches on the grandstand for Bon Om Touk, the annual water festival which begins this weekend. It’s a huge party—the country pretty much shuts down for ...
Michael Sullivan
Govt drawing up aquaculture standards with EU, German help
The Department of Fisheries will finalise guidelines for good aquaculture practices (GAqP) by 2020 to ensure the safety of the country’s fishery products and make them more competitive in foreign markets, a senior official said. U Myint Zin Htoo, deputy director general of the department, said ...
Myat Moe Aung
Despite pressure from domestic fishing groups, Thailand pledges to continue reforms on IUU fishing, forced labor
Thailand Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan has confirmed his country will continue to reform its seafood industry, despite mounting pressure from domestic fishing groups. Wongsuwan made the statement in an 18 October meeting with Environmental Justice Foundation Executive Director Steve Trent, according to EJF. Keep reading ...
Toan Dao
Govt asks Norwegian vessel to continue marine research
Myanmar has asked the Norwegian research vessel RV Dr. Fridtjof Nansen to continue its research on the country’s seabed and ecosystem, the Department of Fisheries said. The vessel, which was named after a famous Norwegian explorer, diplomat, humanitarian and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has visited the country ...
Myat Moe Aung
Concerns rise over microplastics in stomachs of mackerel
The discovery of microplastics in the stomachs of mackerel caught in Trang Sea have raised concerns, but the 3rd Marine National Park Operation Centre urged Thais on Wednesday to refrain from panicking and shunning mackerel. The centre urged people to instead get full awareness of the ...
Govt looks to ease Mekong dam impacts
The Department of Fisheries will roll out a number of measures to help cushion the impacts of dam construction in the upper reaches of the Mekong River on Thai fishermen. Department chief, Adisorn Promthep, said the measures will entail further diplomatic coordination with Laos — which ...
Apinya Wipatayotin
Earth’s largest freshwater creatures at risk of extinction
Some have survived for hundreds of millions of years, but many of the world’s freshwater megafauna—including sumo-sized stingrays, colossal catfish, giant turtles, and gargantuan salamanders—may soon find themselves on the brink of extinction, according to a new study published. For the first time, researchers have quantified the ...
Stefan Lovgren
Aquatic life faces extinction as upstream dams leave Mekong River dry
The Mekong River’s extremely low level of water caused by upstream hydropower dam projects has triggered the death of masses of fish and heightened the risk of mass extinction of aquatic life in the entire Mekong River Basin, environmental experts highlighted on Friday. They said that ...
Vietnam's Cham Islands successfully protect biodiversity
CHÀM ISLANDS, Vietnam – Local fisherman Huynh Tan Loc now earns his living mostly from home-stay and food services or night-fishing on a boat rather than regular fishing. Loc, 56, and his wife can earn VND350,000 (US$15) per night from renting out a room, excluding food, ...