Vientiane - The Government of Lao PDR is currently developing a comprehensive legislation for fisheries and aquaculture. In support of this, FAO, in collaboration with four international technical organizations have developed a Legislative Review of Fisheries and Aquaculture in the Lao PDR, which is now available online.

The Government of Lao PDR recognized the need for a national legal framework to be developed to enable the effective management of fisheries and aquaculture and requested the Department of Livestock and Fisheries to undertake this task. The output of this process has been the development of a draft framework for fisheries and aquaculture for further development into national legislation.

“The role of living aquatic resources is woven into the culture food and tradition of Lao people from every part of the country and each of its eco-regions. Lao PDR’s fisheries resources are an important source of nutritional quality in the diet as well as providing an important element of food security and source of income to the Lao People” said He Changchui, Assistant Director General, FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific.

“The effective management of both fisheries and aquaculture is a critical need, as Lao PDR is rapidly changing its agriculture and water control systems. Declining fisheries resources as a result of increasing population pressures and environmental change are an increasing feature of the Lao landscape,” he adds.

This legislative review forms a background document to a legal review process for fisheries and aquaculture in Lao PDR and has been the result of a unique collaboration between FAO (Legal Service and the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, the Department of Livestock and Fisheries, WWF, the Mekong River Commission’s Fisheries Programme, in particular its ‘Fisheries Management and Governance Component, the Asian Institute of Technology and the WorldFish Center (SE Asia Regional Office).

Over the past two years, each organization has provided not only technical and advisory input to this process, including the organization of, and participation in stakeholder consultations, but has also committed funding support. The significant support provided by the European Union is gratefully acknowledged.

“I believe this process is an excellent example of partnership that exemplifies modern development assistance and the kind of consultative and inclusive process that ensures a robust outcome that will benefit the people of Lao PDR for generations to come,” adds Changchui.

Issued by the office of the FAO Representation in Lao PDR. For more information, contact [email protected]


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