Advocating sustainable management of fish conservation zones in Lao PDR: the case of Nam Houm reservoir

Abstract

Nam Houm Reservoir in Lao PDR is located about 30 km north of Vientiane Municipality and is under the administrative jurisdiction of Naxaythong District of the Capital City of Vientiane. Commissioned in 1981, Nam Houm Reservoir has a total water surface area of 500 ha or 880 ha at full supply level and an average depth of about 8 m. Living in the vicinity of the Reservoir are 3,300 people in four villages with 82 registered fishers, only 50% of whom could be considered fulltime. A local fisheries management group was established by the Mekong River Commission to ensure that fisheries in Nam Houm Reservoir is managed in accordance with the Fishery Law and relevant regulations of Lao PDR. The Reservoir is used not only for irrigation but also as source of water supply as well as for navigation, fisheries, fish culture, and tourism among others. Four major inlet streams supply water to the Reservoir. A permanent fish conservation zone or FCZ has been established in the Reservoir (1,500 m from the dam) where no fishing is allowed for all types of fishing gears the whole year round.