Fisheries and aquaculture in the Lao PDR

ï¿½ A LEGISLATIVE REVIEW

FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE IN THE LAO PDR – A LEGISLATIVE REVIEW

By

Philippe Cacaud and Phouvieng Latdavong

With contributions from

Simon Funge-Smith, Blaise Kuemlangan, Eric Meusch,
Roger Mollot and Bounthong Saphakdy

RAP PUBLICATION 2009/05

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific

The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) concerning the legal or development status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The mention of specific companies or products of manufacturers, whether or not these have been patented, does not imply that these have been endorsed or recommended by FAO in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned.

ISBN 978-92-5-106236-4

All rights reserved. Reproduction and dissemination of material in this information product for educational or other non-commercial purposes are authorized without any prior written permission from the copyright holders, provided it is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of material in this information product for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without written permission of the copyright holders. Applications for such permission should be addressed to: Chief, Electronic Publishing Policy and Support Branch, Communication Division, FAO, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00153 Rome, Italy or by e-mail to: [email protected]

©FAO 2009

For copies, please contact:
The Senior Fishery Officer
FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
Maliwan Mansion, 39 Phra Athit Road
Bangkok 10200
THAILAND
Tel: (+66) 2 697 4000
Fax: (+66) 2 697 4445
E-mail: [email protected]

For bibliographic purposes, please reference this publication as:

Cacaud, P. & Latdavong, P., (2009). Fisheries and aquaculture in the Lao PDR – a legislative revies. FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok, Thailand. RAP Publication 2009/05, 71 pp.

Abstract

The role of living aquatic resources is woven into the culture, food and traditions of the Lao people from every part of the country and each of its eco-regions. Fisheries products are used for both consumption and commerce, providing people with an important source of animal protein and cash income. Effective management of both fisheries and aquaculture is therefore a critical need for the Lao PDR, especially now that increasing population pressures and environmental changes have led to a decline in fisheries resources. The Government of Lao PDR has recognized this need and requested the Department of Livestock and Fisheries to undertake the task of drafting a national legal framework for the effective management of fisheries and aquaculture. The work has taken nearly two years to complete and has been the result of a unique collaboration between the Government of Lao PDR and partner organizations, including FAO which played a coordinating role in the undertaking. This publication forms the background document to the process of developing the draft legislative framework for fisheries and aquaculture so that local communities and government agencies can collaborate towards effective management strategies and continue to benefit from the rich aquatic resources of the Lao PDR.