Fisheries

Fisheries in the Mekong River

The Mekong River takes its birth in a glacial lake not far from Gaumukh the ice cave in the Himalayas from which the River Ganges or (Ganga for Indians)takes its birth. It flows through Tibet, China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos PDR Cambodia and then through Vietnam to drain into the Pacific Ocean. 

The Mekong Basin offers the most important fresh water fishing grounds in the world. But hydel power generation dams are impeding fish migration. Hydel power generation causes separation of migrating fish because of habitat destruction. This causes separation of groups causing genetic isolation, weakening of genes in successive groups, vulnerability to illness and gradual extinction of fish diversity in the Mekong. Alternatives to big dam construction has never before been so urgently needed, all the more so because fisheries provides food security to millions of people.  

Fresh water fisheries in the Mekong Basin

"According to statistics of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, 750,000 tons of freshwater fish are caught every year in the four countries of the Lower Mekong. Field surveys, however, estimate around 2.1 million tons per year, equivalent to 18% of the global freshwater fish catch. Calculating from the FAO statistics, the annual consumption of freshwater fish per person in the Lower Mekong is 13.8 kg, while the global average is a mere 2.3 kg. The annual consumption in Cambodia is 19.4 kg, the highest in the world. Summarizing further 20 freshwater fish surveys, the average annual consumption per person leaps to 32.3 kg for Cambodia, 24.5 kg for Laos, 24.9 kg for Thailand, and 34.5 kg for Vietnam".

Fed by the minerals carries by the Mekong the coasts off Vietnam make for very rich fishing grounds in the South China Sea. .... so rich infact that it has led to disputes in fishing rights between and among countries abutting the South China Sea - Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Korean Peninsula,  Thailand, Cambodia and Malaysia. 

Reef ecosystems (seen as a lighter version o f sea blue in this picture from the Great Nicobar Island - the southernmost point of India) accounts for vast marine diversity including

Reef forming Polyps can thrive in both tropical seas of the Middle Latitudes and colder waters further off. Reef Ecosystems Apart from vast fish diversity and reef organisms like corals, turtles there many other creatures like Rays, sharks  invertebrates, plants, sea turtles, birds, and marine mammals. Also take a look at the Smithsonian Coral Reef Portal Smithsonian Ocean Portal 

"Recent data show that catches in Mekong basin fisheries are estimated to have an annual economic value of between USD 2.1 billion and USD 3.8 billion, and between USD 4.2 billion and USD 7.6 billion at retail prices (ICEM 2010). In the vicinity of the Khone Falls in southern Laos, the Mekong River mainstream fishing industry supports more than 65,000 households. The average household in this area is thought to catch an annual average of 355 kg of fish, and consume 249 kg of fish. The total catch in the area close to the Khone Falls is estimated at 4,000 tons, worth between USD 450,000 and USD 1 million (Baran, Jantunen, and Chong 2008). Some sources estimate that the freshwater fish production in Cambodia, including fish farming, accounts for between 11.7% to 16% of the GDP, while another source estimates between 8% to 12%. While these figures are all estimates, and it is difficult to obtain accurate statistics for small-scale fisher-folks, the importance of the Mekong River fisheries can be understood from these approximate data (ICEM 2010)".

At present, fish from the Mekong River Basin are being distributed across international borders due to the development of refrigeration facilities and transportation networks. In fact, fish were an important item of exchange in the barter that took place before the establishment of the current distribution system.

"Until about 50 years ago, the exchange of fish and rice took place over an extensive region, including southern Laos and northeastern Thailand. In the era when a subsistence lifestyle was virtually universal, people spent much of their time gathering in order to secure food. In villages where the main vocation was farming, it was difficult to find time to obtain supplementary foods (to eat with rice) during the busy farming seasons of rice seedling transplantation and rice harvesting. At the same time, in riverside villages where fish were available in abundance, fish were caught and processed into fermented or dried foods, which the villagers then actively exchanged for the goods they needed. Food was thus distributed across the region by barter."

The Great Lakes region constitutes the largest continuous mass of freshwater in the world. In fact, these lakes, shared by both the United States and Canada, have supported one of the world's largest freshwater fisheries for over 100 years. Ontario has been Canada's primary producer of freshwater fish, but it is much less significant than the Canadian marine fisheries. Other provinces, such as Nova Scotia have steadily increased their marine catch value to over 5 times the value of Ontario's fishery. Since the fishery began on the Great Lakes, it has been the largest single supplier of freshwater fish in Canada. Great Lakes Fishery Inland fisheries in Canada

These exchanges not only had practical aspects, but also social and cultural significance. A northeastern Thai woman in her 70s relates that in her youth she would make large amounts of dried and fermented foods, load them onto an ox cart and often set off together with a friend without first deciding on a destination. She would then negotiate with people she met along the way to exchange the fish products she had brought with her for rice and other agricultural products. There was no fixed exchange rate for rice and fish, so when she had a surplus she would give more to the other person, and if she was in short supply she would negotiate with the other person to obtain larger amounts of rice. It was explained that what was important in these negotiations was to be openhanded.

Thouigh there is no reef ecosystems (except on the northwest) around Sri Lanka, the waters off Sri Lanka's coast are very rich fishing grounds. The fishing industry contributes to about 27% of the economy in Sri Lanka.

The Palk Straits off the extreme southeast coast of India has land access to Sri Lanka. It is the point where sea level rise has separated the Indian mainland from Sri Lanka. The coral reefs and islands around the Rameshwaram Peninsula are very rich in fish yield fish diversity and coral grounds. The rich fishing grounds at stake are contested between Indian and Sri Lankan fishers ... necessitating sovereign demarcation with flagged boats among other sovereign insignia like this trocoloured boat.

trawlr fisheries is badly in need of legislative regulation... world over if only to make fisheries more sustainable and secure for the have-nots.

Inland fisheries in South East Asia is a very photogenic affair!

The Great Lakes Fishery

The Great Lakes region constitutes the largest continuous mass of freshwater in the world. In fact, these lakes, shared by both the United States and Canada, have supported one of the world's largest freshwater fisheries for over 100 years. Ontario has been Canada's primary producer of freshwater fish, but it is much less significant than the Canadian marine fisheries. Other provinces, such as Nova Scotia have steadily increased their marine catch value to over 5 times the value of Ontario's fishery. Since the fishery began on the Great Lakes, it has been the largest single supplier of freshwater fish in Canada.

Fresh water fisheries on the Golden Mekong is legendary.

Disputed fishing grounds between India and Sri Lanka has created friction within the Sri Lankan sovereign space - one of the causes for the protracted civil war in Sri Lanka.

Sushi and Sashimi are the evolved fin dining tastes of Islanders across South East Asia - Japan, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore,

Naughty Kitty! Cats love fish! These kinda pictures prompt pet food manufacturers to make cat food and created the industry of  pet food trade.

Harpoon fishing is a traditional skill imparted to the younger generation in many oriental societies. Traditional means of vocation like harpoon fishing is sustainable but not commercial ... indeed the key to sustainable and inclusive eco friendly economic growth.

The coastal waters off the Mekong Delta in the south China Sea supports an unparalleled marine diversity accounting for the rainforests of th Deep

The Mekong River is the second most biodiverse river in the world (after the Amazon River). We identified 877 fish species in the MRB (not including estuary marine species). Regional species richness.ranges from 484 species in the Mekong Delta to only 24 species in the Chinese headwaters far north. As many as 103 of these species migrate upstream of Kratie in Cambodia, and would be potentially impacted by hydropower development.  

River Giants of the Mekong - WWF   The worlds biggest freshwater fish and 4 out of the top ten giant freshwater fish species can be found in the Mekong River which flows through Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. More giants inhabit this mighty river than any other on Earth. Little is known about these magnificent species of the Greater Mekong region, some attaining five metres in length and over half a ton in weight. What is known is that their future is uncertain. Populations of the Mekong giant catfish have plummeted 90 per cent in just two decades, whilst the giant dog-eating catfish is seldom seen now in the wild. Living amongst the new emerging economic powers of Asia, a combination of infrastructure development, habitat destruction and overharvesting, is quickly eroding populations of these extraordinary species. The single most important threat is the hydropower dams in the lower Mekong and large tributaries. For many of the fish, the obstruction posed by these developments block migration routes to spawning grounds; if the mega fish stop migrating, they will stop spawning. The clock is ticking. There are plans in various stages of development for 11 dams on the lower Mekong mainstream, including the Sayabouly hydropower dam in Sayabouly Province, northern Lao PDR, that will place further pressure on remaining populations of giant fish. As ambassadors of the Greater Mekong region, vulnerable to fishing pressure and changes in the river environment, the status of the giant fish is one indicator of the health and ecological integrity of the Mekong. The well-being of these species is therefore closely linked to the sustainable management of the region and to limiting the environmental impacts of increased regional economic activity and integration. Any impact on the ecological balance of the river also threatens the sustainability of the aquatic resources that support millions of people. There are at least 50 migratory species which are highly vulnerable to mainstream dam development. These make up between 40-70 per cent of the catch of fish in the Mekong. The 1995 agreement of the Mekong River Commission should be fully recognized and endorsed; in particular the procedures for notification, prior consultation and agreement. WWF supports a delay in the approval of the mainstream dams, including the Sayabouly hydropower dam in Sayabouly Province, to ensure a comprehensive study is undertaken to fully consider the costs and benefits of their construction and operation. WWF encourages others to join in supporting the Mekong countries to commit to the study phase.

Refrigeration facilities for fisheries in South East Asia has the potential for fair trade and food security of the Have-Nots. 

A fisherman spirals his nets while casting it at Sunrise in Chilka Lake India's largest brackish water body located in Odisha on India's east coast. 

Basket fishing is a traditional meas of fishing in many parts of Southeast Asia. The tradition stems from the belief that common property like food resources have to be shared with the community in which is is found. 

Basket fishing takes the form of many shapes and sizes to suuit the needs of different communities. 

Land's End in a peninsula. Makes a magnificent and photogenic setting. South and Southeast Asia are blessed with many geographically diverse features that spawn fish diversity.

That this fisherman was out at sea in the wee hours becomes apparent given the lamp that is placed in the boat. This lamp will hardly illuminate the boat's immediate surroundings on a vast sea. The need for lighting / illumination of fisher boats is stark to make fisheries safe  for small fishers. the irony of modern day fisheries is that large trawlers hug the coast whereas hungry ambitious fishers on small traditional boats go out to the open ocean in search of large fish catch. 

Amazing indeed are the skills of the traditional fishers.

Cold winds on the tropical seas have an impact on fish migration, spawning,

Similarly, sunlight, precipitation, humidity, moisture, aridity evaporation all affect the nutrients in the water body... consequently fishyield as well as spawning and gender ratios...

Fishing is an extremely labour intensive economic activity. Often the fishers' community lack basic human rights, access to toilets and sanitation. They lack a minimum support price, financial and livelihood security; they are also financially exploited by micro finance lenders. These factors trigger social evils like gambling, debt trap, alcoholism, drug addiction, even womanising according to the fish vendors (who are largely women).

Fishing at all odd hours to satiate hungry stomachs. The fisher folk community is desperately in need of fiscal incentives to be sved the exploitation of mincro financiers.

Stilt fishing is just one technique deployed for sustainable fishing.

Trawling is utterly eco detrimental as the trawlers wipe the ocean floor destroying spawning grounds, and endangered marine fauna like turtles, reef sharks, corals and the like. Policy, legislation and enforcment are neededto ensure that trawlers are permitted only 20 kilometres offshore.

Places like Indonesia are governed by Maritime Law rather than terrestrial law.

Traditional slow boat fishing is considered the the most time tested and sustainable means of fishing.

Fishing disputes between Spanish fishers and the British administered Gibraltar seemed never ending. But Brexit has spawned a new dawn on fishing rights.

Similarly fishing disputes between Indian and Pakistani fishers near Sir Creek ... only exacerbate the disputes in the subcontinent.

As the Sun sets, the Mekong is aflame in riotous colour. The Mekong is one of the greatest fishing grounds blessed by Mother Nature.

Regulation and administration are the greatest challengesin fishing rich areas of the Emerging Economies.

A fisherman ties a net to protect his territory / fishing ground in a water body in South Asia.

Game fishing is a traditional European pastime that children learn readily from their elders.

Traditional means of drying fish after skinning in Rasimanal on the banks of the River Cauvery in Tamilnadu, India. 

Hang drying fish is a traditional means of drying amongst inland / fresh water fishers in Tamilnadu, India.

A cantilever bridge opens to let a fishing boat cross a bridge over the sea on a Mediterranean port.

A scene at a fishing port in southern Italy.

Fishers set sail in Bangladesh at Sunrise.

A scene at a Icelandic fishing port. 

A fisherman casts his net over the Mekong River in Cambodia.

A fishing port near Asilah on Morocco's Atlantic coast looks peaceful. But fishing disputes are legion with European Union.

A war damaged dilapidated fishing boat in Jaffna Sri Lanka.

AGerman fisher seen baiting fish with a hook in Ewaldsee near Erle in Germany.

A cold but sunny Spring morning in Ewaldsee Germany heralds the beginning of outdoor activities in mid April in Germany.

Dawn heralds a most kaleidoscope of colours in the tropics!

Early Morning off Trincomalee Sri Lanka. Trincomalee has some of the richest fishing grounds thanks to its deep sea port and coastline.

A view of low tide near Killinochi, Sri Lanka.

Incredible... but I am not sure if it is a photo shopped picture. Its a black tipped shark nevrtheless.

Basket fisher on the Mekong in Laos.  Part of traditional fisheries in Laos and the Mekong Basin.

That water bodies lack gravity, but instead of have traction is apparent in this picture.

All great rivers collect their run off in a lagoon before discharging to the sea. Such lagoons are extremely sensitive ecosystems and they harbour an unparalleled fish diversity This is a scene near Kumarakom in Kerala, India. Fishing is thus part of the Agrometeorological traditions of the people in this part of the world.

The fish basked under the Mango Tree. Tropical fresh water ecosystems make for very rich aquatic life. This is a typical Sunrise on the Mekong River in Vietnam.

Land's End. The Rameshwaram Peninsula abutting the Palk Straits harbours rich fishing grounds. The sovereignity of the disputed Kuchaitivu Island  between India and Sri Lanka has fuelled friction over fishing rights leading to uncalled for arrests and capturing of Indian fisher's assets. Disputed fishing grounds are many in the world. Sir Creek on India's West Coast bordering Pakistan, between Kalimantan / Borneo / Malaysia  and the Philippines, UK and Spain (Gibraltar),

Sea food is part of the traditional diet of Island territories, regions and countries of the world. Creative variations add colour, vitamins nutrition, flavours and tastes, making Sushi and Sashimi very popular choices in gourmet restaurants. 

They come in all kinds of packaging. 

Sushi and Sashimi are very popular fast foods in the Orient and South Asia. Sushi restaurants are gaining in popularity in urban areas of Europe, the Americas and Africa too.

Fishermen in southern India pull their nets at low tide immediately after sunrise. Fishermen know the Sea's behaviour and cycles better than the Pundits do.

Shark fining is a cruel part of fishing. Fining after landing is a best practice that has still not permeated to all fishing communities. The need for media outreach to disseminate the goal of fining after landing  is all the more in the day and age of when Climate Change is leading to species extinction. Unsustainable fisheries is one of the truest causes of depleting fish yield.

Stilt fishing is a technique of fishers i Sri Lanka where they undertake harpoon fishing

Yes indeed photography of fisheries is one of the most inspiring things ever to be aspired for shutterbugs.

Flying fish. Seamen I have met say where there are flying fish there are no sharks . I am skeptical. The first 20 kilometres offshore are rich in marine diversity. Pelagic fishes like sharks or atleast the pyramid species of sharks and other pelagic fishes need deep sea to thrive. It is not so simple as flying fish do not co exist with sharks.

A breezy sunrise on the sea off Sri Lanka. Petrels fly past a fisherman's Cattamaran.

A view of the destruction wrought by the Asian  Tsunami in the Maldives.

Former UN Secretary General Late Mr. Kofi Annan addresses the press after visiting the  Tsunami affected areas in the Maldives. Maldives President Abdul Gayoom looks on. 

Another glimpse of the devastation wrought by thwe Asian Tsunami on 26.12.2004 in the Maldives.

Fishermen separating th yield in a FAO held training workshop for fishers.

A view of one island on the horizon the Maldivian archipelago ca. 1977 during a FAO held training workshop for fishers in the Maldives.

Pictures by Malini Shankar and Pixabay,
Text: Malini Shankar - Digital Discourse Foundation.