New community fisheries project to preserve Mekong’s biodiversity
A new community fisheries project in the Mekong River was launched in Vientiane on August 28 with the Department of Livestock and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry agreeing to cooperate with the Worldwide Fund for Nature. A memorandum of understanding was signed by the DLF’s Deputy Director General, Mr. Bounthong Saphakdy and WWF-Lao Country Director, Mr. Somphone Bouasavanh in the presence of representatives from the ministries of Foreign Affairs and Natural Resources and Environment and local authorities. The project focuses on two provinces along the middle Mekong main stream, Borikhamxay and Khammuan. The project’s aim is to improve transboundary freshwater natural resources management via the creation of a fish conservation zone, fisheries management committee and village patrolling units in 15 villages of target provinces.
