Local perceptions of changes in the use and management of floodplain fisheries commons: the case of Pak Peung wetland in Lao PDR

Joanne Millar (), Wayne Robinson, Lee Baumgartner, Khampheng Homsombath, Malavanh Chittavong, Thonglome Phommavong and Douangkham Singhanouvong
Additional contact information
Joanne Millar: Charles Sturt University
Wayne Robinson: Charles Sturt University
Lee Baumgartner: Charles Sturt University
Khampheng Homsombath: Living Aquatic Resources Research Centre
Malavanh Chittavong: National University of Lao PDR
Thonglome Phommavong: National University of Lao PDR
Douangkham Singhanouvong: Living Aquatic Resources Research Centre

Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, 2019, vol. 21, issue 4, No 14, 1835-1852

Abstract: Abstract Local perceptions of floodplain fisheries use and management can play an important role in designing adaptive strategies to improve fisheries co-management. This paper explores perceptions of local people on changes in the use and management of floodplain fisheries, using a case study of Pak Peung wetland commons in Lao PDR. The wetland is seasonally inundated from the Mekong River; however, fish migration has been impacted by irrigation development and increasing fishing pressure. Local fishing practices, knowledge and views were captured to inform co-management strategies, including the first fishway designed for Mekong River fish species. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in 2011 with 81 households from six villages around the wetland. The survey was repeated in 2015 to ascertain any changes in practices and observations of fish migrating up the fishway. Most respondents spent between 10 and 25 h per week fishing and caught from 0.5 to 12 kg per day (average 3 kg), highlighting the part-time and opportunistic nature of seasonal floodplain fishing. Complementary gender roles in exploiting the resource were evident with women catching a wider range of species than men and fishing closer to villages. Respondents said fisheries had declined due to habitat destruction, irrigation development, population increase and illegal fishing methods. Most people wanted stronger regulation and patrolling of fish conservation zones. Several households reported catching fish species not seen in the wetland for many years post-fishway including two endangered species and one vulnerable species. Greater attention to regular enforcement of fisheries rules and gendered perspectives would assist local communities in protecting their floodplains for future generations.

Keywords: Floodplain fisheries; Fishway; Fisheries commons; Lower Mekong Region; Wetlands; Mekong River (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10668-018-0105-3 Abstract (text/html)
Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:endesu:v:21:y:2019:i:4:d:10.1007_s10668-018-0105-3

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.springer.com/economics/journal/10668

DOI: 10.1007/s10668-018-0105-3

Access Statistics for this article

Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development is currently edited by Luc Hens

More articles in Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development from Springer
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().