April-June
Issue 2007/2
Mekong News
T H E N E W S L E T T E R O F T H E M E K O N G R I V E R C O M M I S S I O N
MRC launches new navigation aid system
ON 5th April 2007, the Mekong River
accidents from collisions, ships
Commission laid the inaugural
running aground, and risks for
navigational buoy in Chaktomouk
pollution, threatening the ecosystem
area in the access channel to Phnom
of the river. This also results in a loss
Penh Port as the start of what will be
of opportunities as investors see
the first 24-hour navigational aid
navigation as an adventure rather than
system on the Mekong in Cambodia.
a transport mode which can provide a
The navigational aids project is part
reliable schedule for cargo
of the MRC's Navigation Programme
forwarders.
which is funded by the Government
Pollution from spills is particularly
of Belgium.
important in this region as millions of
The buoy was released in an onboard
the people in the Mekong Basin,
ceremony by H.E. Mr. Sun Chanthol,
particularly in Cambodia, depend
Minister of Public Works and
largely on the resources of the
Transport, H.E. Mr Tram Iv Trek,
Mekong for their daily living and a
Secretary of State of the Ministry of
pollution accident could be a serious
Public Works and Vice Chairman of
threat to their livelihoods. Proper
the Cambodia National Mekong
channel marking will reduce these
Committee, H.E. Mr Jan Matthysen,
risks significantly.
Ambassador of Belgium and Dr
This system will be of enormous
Olivier Cogels, Chief Executive
assistance to Cambodia in increasing
Officer of the Mekong River
its export potential, as the river will
Commission Secretariat.
Making a splash in the Mekong: the first buoy is dropped into position.
become a reliable and more economic
PHOTO GARRISON PHOTOGRAPHY
Over the next six months, the Aids to
form of transport. The quality of
Navigation on the Mekong River
busiest stretch of the Mekong in
that sea-going vessels and inland
waterborne transport will be
Project, will install 56 buoys of three
Cambodia.
barges can safely navigate for 24
improved, waiting times will be
types and 12 leading markers over a
shortened, night navigation will be
The installation of this internationally
hours a day in safety.
100km stretch of the Mekong River.
possible, and river transportation will
recognised system of aids to
Shipping is being hindered by shoals,
These buoys will mark a safe channel
be more cost-effective and efficient.
navigation such as buoys, beacons
sand banks, ship wrecks and other
from Phnom Penh Port to the
and shore marks, aims to improve
obstacles. A lack of aids to navigation
A cost benefit study has shown that
Cambodia-Viet Nam border ­ the
safety and efficiency of navigation so
is the main cause for various
Continued page 2
Joint Committee discusses MRC progress
DELEGATES at the 25th Joint Committee Meeting
investment banks were already underway.
held in Siem Reap, Cambodia on 9-10 May 2007
Cooperation between Member States was
heard that the work of the Mekong River
continuing in strength and there was a growing
Commission now showed an increased sense of
cooperation with upstream countries, based on a
ownership by its Member Countries.
stepwise approach and mutual trust.
The MRC had consolidated as a strong and
The meeting heard that the organisation was
cooperative forum for the joint development of the
financially sound and that donor support had been
water and related resources of the Mekong River
strong over the past eight months with seven
Basin.
agreements, worth more than US$25 million, being
MRC Secretariat Chief Executive Officer Dr
signed with the Governments of Australia,
Olivier Cogels told the meeting that the
Denmark, Finland, Germany, Japan and Sweden
implementation of the MRC's 2006-2010 Strategic
and with the European Commission. Techncial
Plan was going to schedule. A number of
assistance was also being provided by experts
JC members sign the minutes at the conclusion of the
significant activities regarding cooperation with
Continued page 4
25th Joint Committee Meeting in Siem Reap.
INSIDE
Fisheries Programme monitors record catch
Sweden adds support for MRC programmes
First regional gender workshop held
MRC Informal Donor Meeting, June 2007
For information about the MRC please contact: Tel: 856 21 263 263 Email: mrcs@mrcmekong.org Website: www.mrcmekong.org

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Record haul for dai fisher y
Basin
wetlands
CAMBODIA'S dai fishery landings in
2006-07 were the second-highest on
work to
record, according to figures from the
the Cambodian Fisheries
continue
Administration (FiA).
Since 1995 the MRC Fisheries
THE first phase of the Mekong
Programme has been supporting the
Wetlands Biodiversity Conservation
FiA to formally monitor the stationary
and Sustainable Use Programme
trawl or dai fishery of the Tonle Sap
(MWBP) has been successfully
River in Kandal Province and Phnom
completed, but due to changes in the
Penh Municipality.
funding priorities of the Global
Combined landings from the 64 dai
Environment Fund of the United
nets are estimated at 18,200 tonnes,
Nations it will be unable to continue
second only to the 2005-6 season,
its second phase.
which recorded the highest ever
MRC data collectors preparing to sample landings from a dai.
The programme, which was managed
landings. The 2006-2007 catch is well
jointly by the United Nations
above average and represents nearly 4
Hydrological conditions within the
The component is currently preparing
Development Programme, the World
percent of estimated total inland
system described using a simple flood
a collaborative research proposal with
fisheries landings for this season. The
Conservation Union (IUCN) and the
index have been employed to explain
Murdoch University in Australia to
estimated value is 12.9 billion riel
MRC, held its final seminar at the
these large inter-annual variations in
undertake this research with financial
(US$3.2 million).
MRC Secretariat in Vientiane on
landings. Other explanatory variables
support from the Australian Centre
27 March 2007.
While the number of dais allowed to
have included changes in illegal gear
for International Agricultural
fish is strictly controlled by licensing,
use as well as training and awareness-
Research.
Since the launch of its first phase in
MRC data collectors reported an
raising activities.
The research, which is expected to
mid-2004, the MWBP had been
increase in the use of diesel engines
During the next two years, the
begin next year, will also seek to
working at four wetlands
to haul the nets this year. These might
Fisheries Ecology, Valuation and
determine if any significant changes
demonstration sites in Stung Treng,
allow operators to set and haul nets
Mitigation Component of the MRC's
in fish diversity and rates of
Cambodia; in Attapeu, Lao PDR; the
more often each day, effectively
Fisheries Programme will seek to
exploitation have occurred in the
Songkhram River Basin in Thailand
increasing their fishing power.
improve the understanding of the
fishery since formal monitoring
and the Plain of Reeds in Viet Nam.
Landings from the dai fishery are
response of fish biomass to changes
began. It will also undertake a
Among its major achievements, were
regarded as an important indicator of
in river hydrology and fishing effort
thorough investigation of the dai
establishing a wetlands working
the health of fishery resources of the
by employing indicators of biomass
monitoring database to check for any
group in Cambodia's Ministry of
Great Lake-Tonle Sap. Since 1995,
that attempt to account for changes in
errors in the dataset and to ensure that
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries,
estimated annual landings have
fishing effort and gear efficiency, as
the catch and effort estimation
and preparing Lao PDR to the accede
exhibited considerable fluctuation
well as a range of alternative
methodologies are correct.
to the Ramsar Convention with
around the estimated mean of
quantitative descriptors of
For information contact: Dr Ashley Halls,
Siphandone as its first Ramsar site.
approximately 15,000 tonnes a year.
hydrological conditions.
halls@mrcmekong.org
The programme also worked on the
MRC launches buoy...
possible designation of Thailand's
Songkhram River Basin as a new
Ramsar site and through scientific
work at the Tram Chim National
From page 1
Park, assisted Viet Nam to change its
up to US$45 million can be saved in
policy on Special Use Forests.
annual transport costs if the Mekong
During the seminar, the meeting
River system can be used to transport
heard that the evaluation report had
containers between Phnom Penh, Can
singled out MRC's activities as
Tho and Ho Chi Minh City, and also
directly to overseas ports such as
successful. MRC's mapping of the
Singapore and Hong Kong.
four wetland sites and wetlands
basinwide was complete and the
This stretch of the river is part of the
Wetlands Map Service is now
international shipping route that
available on the MRC Portal
connects Phnom Penh Port with the
(http://portal.mrcmekong.org/).
sea whilst passing through the delta in
Viet Nam. Although international
This portal provides access to
shipping from countries outside the
information on the wetlands via an
Basin to and from Cambodia and Viet
interactive map. It integrates GIS and
Nam on the Mekong River System
earth observation layers with field
exists, there is great potential for
From Left: Mr John Sugarman of Australian Maritime Systems, H.E. Mr Sun Chanthol
survey data including photographs
increased maritime shipping.
and Dr Cogels complete the handover of the first buoy to Phnom Penh Port.
and provides access to additional
This initiative should assist in
establishing a legal framework
Navigation Project. The 12-month
information by linking to other map
supporting the overall development of
between those two countries, which
project started in November 2006 and
layers, relevant websites and
navigation on the Mekong.
will facilitate passage of vessels and
is being implemented by Australian
documentation.
The CEO of the Mekong River
cargo, and boost confidence among
Maritime Systems Ltd in cooperation
The MRC's Environment Programme
Commission Secretariat Dr Olivier
investors.
with Phnom Penh Autonomous Port
will continue its wetlands activities in
Cogels said this initial installation
This framework will also directly
and the Waterways Department of the
the Lower Mekong Basin. It has been
project was part of the MRC's bigger
benefit the other Mekong nations and
Ministry of Public Works and
instrumental in supporting the
plans to open up the Mekong and
overseas partners. In fact, shipping
Transport.
accession of Lao PDR to the Ramsar
reduce physical and non-physical
companies from Thailand already
The equipment is made by Mobilis
convention and developing
barriers to free navigation.
send vessels to Phnom Penh via the
Co Ltd (France) and distributed by
transboundary wetland cooperation
As part of its mandate, the Navigation
Mekong River.
Tempest Co Ltd. (Belgium).
throughout the Basin.
Programme is in the process of
The MRC, through the Navigation
For information contact: Lieven Geerinck,
facilitating a Navigation Protocol
Programme is the Executing Agency
geerinck@mrcmekong.org or Hiek Phirun,
For information contact: Dr Charlotte
between Cambodia and Viet Nam and
of the Installation of Aids to
phirun@mrcmekong.org
MacAlister, charlotte@mrcmekong.org

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Sweden provides U$$6.4m for MRC programmes
THE Swedish Government will
the overall implementation of the
provide US$6.4 million (45 million
management and development of the
Swedish Kroner) over a three-year
water resources of the Mekong basin
period to support the work of the
in an integrated, sustainable and
Mekong River Commission (MRC).
equitable manner for the mutual
The agreement was signed in Hanoi,
benefit of the riparian States.
Viet Nam on 24 April 2007 by H.E.
The funding will be used to help
Ms Gunilla Carlsson, Minister of
develop a rolling basin plan and to
International Development
identify projects for development as
Cooperation, on behalf of the
well as to improve the MRC
Government of Sweden and Dr Olivier
knowledge base and assessment tools
Cogels, Chief Executive Officer of the
and to build capacity in areas where it
MRC Secretariat.
is required.
H.E.Ms Gunilla Carlsson and Dr Olivier Cogels seal the agreement with a handshake.
Sweden has supported the MRC for
Within the Fisheries Programme the
many years, focusing in particular on
related to the Mekong River. She also
incorporation of environmental
support will be used to fund an
the Environment Programme, the
highlighted the critical role the MRC
concerns. Monitoring and assessment
economic valuation of fisheries in the
Basin Development Plan, the Fisheries
has to play in Southeast Asia.
activities will be continued, but with
Lower Mekong Basin and to provide
Programme and on Institutional
Within the Environment Programme
an increased focus on how to make
support to the Technical Advisory
Support. The renewed support will be
the new funding will be focused on
them sustainable in the medium term.
Body for Fisheries Management, a
used on these four areas.
stimulating better dissemination of
A comprehensive environmental flows
regional fisheries management body.
assessment capacity will be established
The Minister said the Swedish support
information, continued work on
The Institutional Support element will
for the Mekong River Basin.
will contribute to an environmentally
transboundary environmental hot spot
provide integrated water resources
sustainable use and equitable sharing
issues and close engagement with
The Swedish support to the Basin
management capacity support within
of benefits from the natural resources
other MRC programmes to assist with
Development Plan will contribute to
the MRC Secretariat.
MRC, USAID sign arrangement to support transboundary cooperation
THE MRC and the United States Agency for
range of MRC programmes engaged in or planning
International Development (USAID) signed a new
activities.
cooperative arrangement to assist MRC member
USAID, in partnership with the Secretariat,
countries in joint planning, cooperation, and
National Mekong Committees, and Line Agencies,
prevention of transboundary issues in Hanoi, Viet
will organise a series of activities designed to
Nam, on April 23.
further strengthen regional cooperation capacity.
The agreement aims to support the development of
Through this collaboration, the partners will
institutional arrangements, tools and skills for
facilitate counterpart exchanges and cooperation
strengthening regional cooperation and addressing
between Mekong countries to promote sharing of
areas of potential dispute. Through its regional
best practices in the management of transboundary
Environmental Cooperation-Asia (ECO-Asia)
issues and the development of tools and strategies
Mr Olivier Carduner USAID's Mission Director and
Program, USAID will cooperate across the full
for addressing potential conflict.
Dr Olivier Cogels sign the new cooperation arrangement.
I n f o r m a t i o n p r o d u c t s All available as free downloads on www.mrcmekong,org
Identification of Freshwater
Biomonitoring of the Lower
Annual Mekong Flood Report
Catch & Culture
Invertebrates of the Mekong and its
Mekong River and Selected
2006
Issue 13/1
Tributaries
Tributaries
MRC Technical Paper No 13
The Annual Mekong
The latest issue of the
This textbook has been
Flood Report 2006
Fisheries Programme
designed as an
This report documents
takes a historical look
Newsletter includes
identification guide for use
the findings of field
at the flood regime of
stories on giant river
by scientists and students
work which examines
the Mekong River and
prawn research in Viet
working the field and in
species composition
allows the reader to
Nam; the dai fisheries
the laboratory. It contains
and variability at 20
put modern floods
annual catch in
detailed drawings,
sites across the Lower
into perspective. The report includes
Cambodia; the Siphandone fishery in
photographs and information on the
Mekong Basin and
much hydrological information on the
Lao PDR; conservation of the
invertebrates of the Mekong and its
identifies those physical and chemical
annual Mekong flood as well as
Mekong giant catfish; fisheries
tributaries which will make their
factors that most strongly correlate
specific country reports on the 2006
management in Thailand; and much
identification easier and more consistent.
with variations in these biological
flood with details of damage and loss.
more.
communities.
December 2006 US$25.00
April 2007 US$10.00 (plus postage)
April 2007 Free (postage applies)
January 2007. US$5.00 (plus postage)
CD US$5 (both plus postage)
For access to the latest reports and research on development issues visit www.mekonginfo.org
How to order
Contact
All products can be ordered from the MRC Secretariat's Documentation Centre.
Documentation Centre
Postage costs apply. Mekong region government agencies may write to the MRC
Mekong River Commission Secretariat
to obtain free copies.
P.O. Box 6101, 184 Fa Ngoum Road, Unit 18, Ban Sithane Neua,
Check the MRC website for a full list of products. Credit card sales are also
Sikhottabong District, Vientiane 01000, Lao PDR
available through the website, www.mrcmekong.org.
Phone: (856 21) 263 263 ext: 1122 Fax: (856 21) 263 264
All products are also available as free downloads from the MRC website.
Email: doc.centre@mrcmekong.org Website: www.mrcmekong.org

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International conference on the MRC
Joint
Committee...
ON 23-24 April an International
Conference on the Mekong River
From page 1
Commission (MRC) was held in
Hanoi, Viet Nam. The conference was
from France, Germany and Japan.
hosted by the Viet Nam National
The meeting discussed the progress
Mekong Committee and jointly
of the work of the MRC and heard
organised with the Government of
that concrete outputs had been
Denmark.
produced in the Environment,
The high level Conference drew
Navigation, Flood Mitigation and
representatives from the MRC
Management, Agriculture, Irrigation
Council, as well as government
and Forestry Programmes.
ministers from Denmark, Sweden and
The Fisheries Programme, in
Japan to discuss ways to strengthen
particular, was commended for its
the MRC to enable it to play a
The senior participants in the high level international conference in Hanoi.
"world class" performance.
stronger role in the sustainable
reaffirmation of the role of the MRC
preparation of projects and
development of water and related
The newly-established Information
as an important joint mechanism for
implementation of activities in order
resources in the Mekong Basin, in
Knowledge Management Programme
informed political dialogue between
to ensure optimal synergies and
collaboration with national, regional
was now funded and had already
the Member States and their partners
efficiency.
and international partners.
recorded some significant outputs.
on the sustainable development and
The conference called for better
The themes were: The MRC's
use of water and related resources in
Under the Integrated Capacity
harmonisation and coordination of the
comparative advantage; cooperation
the Mekong Basin.
Building Programme there had been
donor community in their support to
with upper riparian states China and
a successful implementation of the
It concluded that there were needs to
the MRC. It requested that the MRC,
Myanmar; the working relationship
Gender Mainstreaming Project, while
strengthen the organisation in several
in close coordination with the NMCs,
between the MRC, Asian
funding was being sought for Phase 2
areas including requesting more
engage with the different basin
Development Bank (ADB) and the
of the Junior Riparian Project.
support from Member States to
stakeholders, including civil society
World Bank; and, the MRC and
ensure that MRC strategies and plans
and research institutions, in assessing
Discussions were also held on the
donors.
are adequately reflected in national
and promoting development
second phase of the Basin
Participants included representatives
development policies, strategies and
interventions in the Mekong Basin.
Development Plan and the form of
from National Mekong Committees
plans in all relevant sectors ­ and vice
the future work of the of the Water
Conference participants said that
and Line Agencies, Dialogue
versa.
Utilisation Programme.
appropriate follow up actions to
Partners, senior representatives of
There was also a need for more active
implement these commitments should
The meeting considered the report on
MRC donor countries, senior
involvement by the MRC in GMS
be taken through the MRC Joint
the Hydrological Conditions in the
members of the World Bank and the
programmes in the Mekong Basin
Committee and Council as well as the
Lower Mekong Basin, which
ADB, MRC partners and MRC staff.
within its mandate and increased
Donor Consultative Group. Denmark
presented data on water levels and
In a joint statement of the
collaboration with the World Bank
pledged US$535,000 support to effect
river flows recorded in the last wet
conference's findings there was a
and the ADB in the identification and
this implementation.
season.
MRC holds first regional gender workshop
IN APRIL 2007 the MRC Gender
as updated information on
Mekong Committees and Line
Finally there was a need to translate
Mainstreaming Project held its first
achievements of the Gender
Agencies, and training of trainers.
the MRC Gender Strategy, Policy, and
Basin-Wide Workshop on Gender
Mainstreaming Project. Then each
The meeting called for the
Tool Kits into riparian languages and
Mainstreaming in Water and Related
team presented a background of the
establishment of sex-disaggregated
disseminate them to Line Agencies.
Resources Development in the Lower
team's organisation, coordination
databases and a system for data
At the end of the workshop the group
Mekong Basin (LMB).
scheme, progress, and action plan.
collection as well as a seminar or
had finalised four national gender
The two-day workshop was held at the
Many countries are already
workshop on gender data collection
action plans and an action plan for the
MRC Secretariat from 11-12 April and
conducting gender awareness and
and analysis in water and related
MRC Secretariat; a Basinwide Action
brought the national gender teams
sensitivity training, gender analysis,
resources management in the LMB.
Plan; finalised a project timeframe;
from the four member countries and
gender responsive development
Participants said there was a need to
and strengthened gender networks.
the MRCS Gender In-House Network
planning, gender in monitoring and
organise consultative meetings with
All teams will meet again in April
together to draw up a Basinwide
evaluation, but there was an agreed
policy-makers as well as to conduct a
2008 to report on the progress of the
Action Plan for Gender Mainstreaming
need to increase this. There was also
an agreed need to conduct courses on
forum to promote gender awareness
agreed activities.
in Water Resources Management.
using the MRC Tool Kits for Gender
and sensitivity in the use and
For information contact:
The meeting heard a brief review of
Responsive Mekong River Basin
management of water resources in the
Dr Sengamphone Chithtalath,
the MRC Gender Milestones as well
Development within National
Mekong River Basin.
sengamphone@mrcmekong.org
Upcoming events
MRC Informal Donor Meeting
World Water Week
Vientiane, Lao PDR June 2007
12-18 August, 2007, Stockholm, Sweden
Email: schiefer@mrcmekong.org
www.worldwaterweek.org
Network of River Basin Organisations 7th World General Assembly
10th International Riversymposium and Environmental Flows Conference.
7-9 June 2007, Debrecen, Hungary
3-6 September, 2007, Brisbane, Australia.
Email: inbo@wanadoo.fr
www.riversymposium.com
Water for a Changing World ­ Enhancing Local Knowledge and Capacity
Fisheries data collection and analysis Training Course
Symposium
Wageningen, the Netherlands, October 1-19, 2007.
13-15 June 2007, Delft, The Netherlands
The course is intended especially for members of government departments, institutes and non-
http://www.unesco.org/water/water_events/Detailed/1502.shtml
governmental organisations. A limited number of fellowships are available for this course.
E-mail: training.wi@wur.nl www.cdic.wur.nl
2nd IASTED International Conference on Water Resources Management
Mekong News is published quarterly by the Mekong River Commission
20-22 August 2007, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Secretariat in Vientiane, Lao PDR. Please send comments, queries and ideas to the
http://www.unesco.org/water/water_events/Detailed/1375.shtml
Communications Officer, Phone: (856-21) 263 263 ext. 4703 Fax: (856-21) 263 264
Email: virginia@mrcmekong.org

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