FAO sees Mekong as biggest source of global inland fish catch
The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations has ranked the Mekong Basin as the world’s most important hydrologic region or river basin for freshwater fish catches.
In its latest State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture report, the FAO said that Mekong Basin accounted for 15.2 percent of the global inland fish catch which was released in Rome recently saying 50 percent of the global catch came from the Mekong and six other basins.
The Mekong Basin spreads across Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.
Some of the world’s largest inland fisheries come from basins or river systems that are facing severe threats from anthropogenic and natural environmental pressures.
The report said global catches from inland waters have increased steadily year on year reaching more than 12 million tonnes in 2018 which is the highest level recorded.
China accounted for the biggest share of catches from inland waters in 2018 followed by India, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Cambodia.
AKP
