Mekong mystery: Dwindling fish

The New York Times As we traveled down the Mekong River, I kept hearing variations of the same story: “There are fewer fish.” Our guide in the Four Thousand Island region of Laos relayed that fishermen now work longer hours and catch fewer fish. At a fishing camp just below Khone Falls, at the border of Laos and Cambodia, a boat captain described how in his youth (three decades ago) Read More…

Preventing cardiac arrest for Cambodia’s heart

CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems 22 May, 2013 Today, May 22, is the International Day of Biodiversity, which this year, coincides with the 2013 Year of Water Cooperation. It’s the ideal day to spend the coffee break mulling over the relationship between water, biodiversity, and agriculture in some of the world’s most critical life raft ecosystems – regions where Read More…

Coastal experts land in Vietnam

The News Star 17 May, 2013 American coastal experts have traveled to Vietnam to gain help in saving the Mississippi River delta system. Experts from around the world will spend much of next week in Vietnam addressing coastal land loss, particularly along the Mississippi and Mekong river systems. Representatives from the America’s WETLAND Foundation, Vietnam National University and Read More…

Mounting concern in Cambodia over hydropower project

Radio Australia 8 May, 2013 A small herd of water buffalo beats the afternoon heat in the cool waters of the Se San River. Nearby Srekor village is a tranquil place of 400 families that has stood on the southern bank of the Se San River for as long as anyone here can remember. It won't be here much longer: in the next year or so, the residents will have to leave. The reason? A vast Read More…

Ending overfishing in Europe may take over 100 years, says WWF

The Fish Site New scientific analysis from environmental organisation WWF reveals recovery of European fish stocks will take more than 100 years under current proposals by EU Fisheries Ministers. “No law can end overfishing in one fell swoop but Ministers appear to be actively sidelining stock recovery”, says Roberto Ferrigno, WWF’s Common Fisheries Policy project Read More…

Alaska salmon fishery produces USD 1.5 billion in value

FIS The Bristol Bay, Alaska commercial salmon fishery is the world's most valuable wild salmon fishery and in total produces an astounding annual value of USD 1.5 billion, according to a new report, "The Economic Importance of the Bristol Bay Salmon Industry". The fishery supports a significant number of jobs in the four West Coast states, Alaska, Washington, Oregon and California, and the Read More…

Agreed labelling rules with ‘more accurate’ geographic data

FIS The 27 Member states and the European Parliament (EP) have agreed on launching the common market organisation (CMO) of fisheries and aquaculture products, including the rules on fish labelling. This CMO is expected to form part of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) while it is being negotiated in the European Union (EU), the Irish Presidency of the Union reported. The rotating Read More…

Fish piracy costs $10 billion to $23 billion a year

Reuters Fish piracy - seafood caught illegally, not reported to authorities or outside environmental and catch regulations - represents as much as $10 billion to $23 billion in global losses each year, a non-profit conservation group estimated Wednesday. Because pirated fish is sold on black markets, specifics of the economic impact are tough to decipher. But Oceana, a Washington-based Read More…

The fish we need to feed 9 billion people

National Geographic 20 May, 2013 Smart fisheries management is a great place to start a conversation about putting the ocean at the center of the world’s biggest challenges.  This is because the most profitable type of fishing is sustainable fishing – better management helps fishermen and the ocean at the same time. Sustainable fishing means keeping enough fish in the water to Read More…

A plague of deforestation sweeps across Southeast Asia

Yale Environment 360 20 May, 2013 Illegal logging and unchecked economic development are taking a devastating toll on the forests of Vietnam and neighboring countries, threatening areas of biodiversity so rich that 1,700 species have been discovered in the last 15 years alone. In 1968, during the six-month siege of Khe Sanh — one of the most bitterly fought battles of the Vietnam War Read More…