COMMUNITY BASED FISH CULTURE IN IRRIGATION SYSTEMS SEASONAL FLOODPLAINS Nguyen Van Hao Research Institute for AquacultureN2 Ministry of Fisheries -Viet nam

MAP OF FLOODED AREAS IN MEKONG DELTA – VIET NAM 0120 km Thailand Lao PDR VietNam Cambodia Red: flooded in September Yellow: flooded in October Blue: Flooded in March N

MAIN CONTENTS 1. BACKGROUND 2. CASE STUDY 3. MAIN FINDINGS 4. KEY REMARKS 5. PLAN FOR VIET NAM 6.CONCLUSION

1.BACKGROUND -The total surface area of Mekong delta flooded areas is about 1.9 million ha -Flooded period is from July to December. -The water depth is about 0.5 – 5m in which the area with less than 1 m occupied 60% total surface areas. 0 Cambodia Mekong delta flooded map

BACKGROUND (cont.) The Mekong delta flooded areas can be divided into 4 main parts. 1.Plain of Reed area (Dong Thap,Tien Giang and Long An) Total surface area:703,338 ha. The flooded period:1-5 months Water depth : 0.5m-4m. 2.Long xuyen quadrangle area (An Giang and Kien Giang) Total surface area : 457,000 ha. The flooded period:1-5 months Water depth : 0.5m-3m 0120 km Thailand Lao PDR VietNam Cambodia Red: flooded in September Yellow: flooded in October Blue: Flooded in March The flooded areas in Mekong delta and ø Cambodia in 2000 (MRC)

BACKGROUND (cont.) 3.The western part of Bassac river (An Giang) Total surface area: 365,060 ha. Flooded period : August to December Water depth : m 4. The middle part between Mekong and Bassac rivers(DongThap,Cantho, Vinh Long, TienGiang and Tra Vinh) Total surface area:357,277 ha. This is quite abundance of fruit gardens, rice and vegetable fields. The Mekong delta flooded map

BACKGROUND (cont.) The flooded areas are considered a favorable habitat, feeding bed, spawning ground of many fish species.

BACKGROUND (cont.) –Establishing an important inland fishing grounds –Supplying different jobs, income and protein sources to local rural pepople.

2. CASE STUDY Ñoàng Thaùp province: Surface area:83,800 ha. Population: 1,607,800 (2003) 2/3 total surface area flooded every year, especially plain of reed area including different districts such as n Hoàng ngöï, Taân Hoàng, Tam Noâng, Thanh Bình vaø Thaùp Möôøi. Ñoàng Thaùp

CASE STUDY (Cont.) SURVEY LOCATION 1- An Bình B Commune 2- Bình Thaïnh Commune Hoàng Ngöï District Ñoàng Thaùp province Ñieåm NC

MAIN FINDINGS Commun e SexAge groupTotal < 1818 < <55 > 55 An Bình BMale Femal e Sum Bình Thaïnh Male Female Sum Total Basic information of survey households

MAIN FINDINGS Main activities of households - Rice farming : 59.80% -Fishing : 8.82% - Aquaculture : 4.90% Supplementary activities of households -Fishing : 56.86% - Aquaculture : 5.88%

Fishing ground and catching intensity Fishing ground Catching frequency Average catch (kg)/h/fishing gear unitï Std. Deviation Sig. Rice field Canal River

Fish composition in different catch Orders Families Species CypriniformesCyprinidae Small size, low production 4 Big size, low production 13 Small size, big production 2 Cobitidae2 SiluriformesBagridae2 Claridae1 Pangasidae3 Siluriade5 PerciformesAnabatidae2 Channidae1 Synbranchiforme s Synbranchidae1 Osteoglossiforme s Ophichthydae2 Notopteridae1 ClupeiformesClupeidae1 Macrobrachium2 Total : 40 fish species - 12 orders - 6 classes and prawn

Number of species in different catches

Percentage of different fish groups/ total catch

Income of individual and households participating in catching fish /crop (3 months) Indicator Fish catch production of household/cropï < 200 kg< 500 kg< 1000 kg< 2500 kg Percentage of household sample (%) , Total catch/crop/ household (Kg) Total income of household/cropï 50 USD100 USD150 USD500 USD Number of Individual catching/ household Total individual income/crop 30 USD60 USD 150 USD

4. KEY REMARKS - Fishing is the main income in flood season for approximately 60% households. - The main fishing grounds are rice fields in which the average fishing catch is higher than rivers and canals.

KEY REMARKS (Cont.) –The main fishing gears applied in the flood season with the mesh size quite small that is varied from 0.5 to 2.5 cm. –The highest fishing catch comes from trawl net. –The main catching fish is cyprinidae families. Two highest fish groups are Henichorynchus spp and Bagridae.

KEY REMARKS (Cont.) –Due to applied unsuitable fishing gears the catch fish is generally quite small. –Beside using catch fish for household consumption fish can be used for aquaculture, especially sold to get more income. –Average income of fisher varied from 10 to 50 USD/month/fisher.

5. PLAN FOR VIET NAM Project sites: Three communes in three main ecological areas ( mainly in Dong Thap and An Giang province) for the first two years Three districts in the two selected provinces for the last three more years.

PLAN FOR VIET NAM Start-up operation Project introduction in different levels Site selection and establishment of implementation team. Discuss with different stakeholders especially farmers groups. Design and construction Regulation developed and tested. Extension packages developed and tested Extension network established.

PLAN FOR VIET NAM Participating organizations and NGOs Fresh Aquaculture Research center (RIA 2) will collaborate with DARD and commune manager to implement the project. Farmers union, Women union, Youth union and fisheries association in different levels. Fisheries programme (MRC)

PLAN FOR VIET NAM Technical options and institutional arrangements for fish culture Fish and monosex giant prawn Other animal Wild fish Nursing and conditioning before and after flood season Group of farmers involved Suitable regulation in investment, management and profit sharing

CONCLUSION ADVANTAGES Strongly support from government Acceptable approach to increase income of farmers in flooded areas Good experience from previous projects Suitable environmental condition

CONCLUSION DISADVANTAGES Abnormal climate Farmers habit Strict criteria for site selection Unsuitable social approach Long term strategy of extension activities

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