Culture-based fisheries activities are expected to be adopted in many communities following the successful first growth cycle trials. Simon Wilkinson of the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia Pacific (NACAP) told that although the rains occurred earlier than normal and restricted harvesting, the results obtained even with a partial harvest are extremely encouraging.
According to Wilkinson all indications are that culture-based fisheries activities (CBF) are going to be adopted by many communities, including by some neighbouring villages acting on their own, and will contribute significantly to their nutritional, financial and social well being in the years ahead. The main aim of this project is to develop applied production models to optimize yields from culture-based fisheries in flood plain depressions and reservoir coves, thereby improving food fish availability and income generation. The project is being undertaken in eleven villages in two provinces of Lao PDR.
All fishery communities participating in the project gained significantly in the way of community development and well being. Individual communities come together and made collective decisions with regard to maintaining stocks, harvesting procedures and dates. They agreed on marketing strategies that include fixing a minimum saleable price for individual species of fish, and most important of all, the manner in which the profits are to be shared.
It is true that the has brought in some technical improvements, such as in the choice and ratio of species to be stocked, larval to fingerling rearing in hapas in the same water body as a means of reducing mortality of seed stock and engagement and organisation of the community into fisher groups. The project envisages in developing proper broodstock management plans for such key species in order to assure assist in maintaining seed quality.
