Lao NEWS on LNTV: Laos marks National Fish Releasing day.14/7/2016
Like 1 Dislike 0 Published on 18 Jul 2016
VO Laos marks National Fish Releasing and Conservation of Aquatic and Wildlife Day on July 13
INTRO: Laos marks National Fish Releasing and Conservation of Aquatic and Wildlife Day on July 13 by adding 40 million fish to aquatic habitats. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry plans to encourage government and private bodies to add at least 40 million fish to natural waterways to ensure adequate stocks.
STORY: National Fish Releasing and Conservation of Aquatic and Wildlife Day on July 13 is aimed at preserving and boosting stocks of aquatic species and wildlife in general and raising awareness among young people about the importance of natural resources management and sustainability
According to a senior official from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to mark day, fish will be released into the Mekong River and its tributaries, hydropower plant basins, irrigation reservoirs, conservation ponds, streams and wetland areas
Tilapia, Chinese carp and other species will be released.
Laos has 32 state-run fingerling producing stations and centres, and 50 stations and centres operated by the private sector.
Larger fish stocks will also boost the income of fish breeders and provide more fish for consumption.
The ministry's livestock and fisheries division has designated more than 800 conservation areas in 12 provinces of the country, namely LuangNamtha, Bokeo, LuangPrabang, Huaphan, Vientiane, Borikhamxay, Khammuan, Savannakhet, Champassak, Xekong and Attapeu and the capital, of which 397 conservation areas are registered
According to the Mekong River Commission, in 2011 fishing in Laos took place over 1.2 million hectares and yielded an average of 167,922 tonnes of river fish a year along with 40,581 tonnes of other aquatic species estimated to be worth about US$150 million.
More than 75 percent of rural people eat fish and other aquatic species (Text)
In the Mekong sub-region countries of Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, experts have identified 924 indigenous fish species, of which 481 species can be found in Laos.
Experts believe that Sub-Mekong basins have more than 1,200 species of indigenous fish, of which the Living Aquatic Resource Research Centre (LARReC) has identified over 500 species.
Most Lao fish breeders produce 18 species of indigenous fish, 10 non-native species such as tilapia, catfish, Chinese carp and Indian fish. Several projects are underway to trial the breeding of indigenous fish species.
To fulfil its fish consumption strategy for 2020, the livestock and fisheries sector is focusing on three main activities: studies to boost indigenous fish species, river and farmed fish management, the development of fisheries, reservoirs and wetland areas, and the development of commercial fish breeding.