Mekong News
October - December
2002 / 4
THE NEWSLETTER OF THE MEKONG RIVER COMMISSION
Contents
Lower Mekong countries to alert
Lower Mekong countries to alert
each other on river developments
each other on river developments
First Vice-Prime Minister of Viet
Cambodia, Lao PDR,
Nam opens 9th Council meeting
Thailand and Viet Nam
have agreed on specific
Linking high technology to local
procedures to notify
knowledge
each other of any
Mekong River projects
CEO begins 2nd term
undertaken in their own
countries, that may
New institute for fisheries
have impacts on the
n e i g h b o u r s . T h e
research
agreement was signed
off on 12 November in
Border areas targeted for
Ho Chi Minh City at the
Jim Holmes
reforestation
Ninth Annual Meeting
of the Council, the rul-
Workshops and events
ing body of the Mekong
River Commission.
Among the Mekong's many users: Morning traders at Cai Rang,
Can Tho Province, Viet Nam.
Possible Futures: A Mekong
kaleidoscope at the 3rd World
The new agreement, known as million over a six-year schedule is pro-
Water Forum
the Preliminary Procedures for Notifi- vided towards this rule-making pro-
cation, Prior Consultation and Agree- cess, which is also developing a "Basin

ment, prescribes a detailed format for
Inland Fisheries - Lynchpin in the
Modelling Package" that can provide
notification to be carried out. The agree- information about the impacts of
Mekong's future
ment also requires a six-month time planned water use in the future.
frame for consultation between the
Water Voice at
countries affected, before a proposed On the current schedule, procedures for
www.worldwaterforum.org
development can begin.
monitoring existing water uses will be
agreed by the end of 2003, rules for the
While previous notifications have been maintenance of flows by the end of
made within the framework of the 1995 2004, and rules for water quality by the
Agreement on Cooperation for the Sus- end of 2005. The first agreement in this
tainable Development of the Mekong series, the Procedures on Data and In-
River Basin, the new agreement will formation Exchange, were signed off at
ensure provision of all relevant infor- the previous Council meeting in
mation and a more uniform approach November 2001.
to follow-up procedures between the
four countries.
The incoming Chairman of the Counil,
Vietnamese Minister for Agriculture nd
Mekong News is published quarterly by the
This agreement on notification marks Rural Development H.E. Mr Le Huy
Mekong River Commission Secretariat in Phnom
Penh, Cambodia.
the second step in the series of rules on Ngo, expressed his satisfaction that this
water utilization that member coun- second critical milestone of the Water
Please send comments, queries and ideas to:
tries of the Mekong River Commission Utilisation Programme had been met.
Communications Officer, Office of the Chief
Executive Officer MRC Secretariat, Phnom Penh.
have been committed to developing He suggested that strengthened infor-
since 1999, with the help of the Global mation exchange between all six ripar-
(855-23) 720-979 ext 2017
Phone:
(855-23) 720 -972
Environment Facility through
Fax:
ian countries should be an important
delia@mrcmekong.org
E-mail:
the World Bank. Funding of US$11 target for MRC in the near future.

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Mekong News
2
October- December 2002/4
First Vice-Prime Minister of Viet Nam opens 9th
Council meeting
H.E. Nguyen Tan Dung (left) open the MRC Council meeting in Ho Chi Minh City.
The 9th Meeting of the Council of the He spoke of the Mekong River as an "in-
Mekong River Commission was opened valuable asset" to the people of the region,
by H.E. Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung, the First including Viet Nam's 20 million people in
Vice-Prime Minister of Viet Nam, at the the Mekong Delta and Central Highlands
Rex Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City on 11 No- area.
vember 2002.
The First Vice-Prime Minister ended his
speech with a promise: that the Vietnam-
Speaking at the opening, the First Vice- ese government would "do our utmost to
Prime Minister expressed his satisfaction contribute our part in turning the Commis-
that the Council meeting was taking place sion to an example of an international river
in a "very positive" atmosphere following basin management organisation in one of
the ASEAN Summit and associated meet- the most high-potential and rapidly devel-
ings the previous week.
oped areas of the world."
The text of the notification procedures is now available
The text of the notification procedures is now available
on the MRC website, www.mrcmekong.org
on the MRC website, www.mrcmekong.org

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Mekong News
3
October - December 2002/4
MRC Events
Linking high technology to local knowledge
Communities at high risk of flooding in
flood season, the MRC already broadcasts
partner organizations, high-risk communi-
Cambodia and Lao PDR will soon have
daily flood warnings on its website for 21
ties will also be assisted to prepare for
access to flood warnings based on satellite
stations along the mainstream of the
floods so far as possible, in order to
data linked to their own local
minimise loss of life and property.
knowledge, with the help of
US$1.25 million provided by
The complete Flood Management
the USAID Office of US For-
Programme, launched recently at the
eign Disaster Assistance
MRC 9th Council meeting in Ho Chi
(USAID/OFDA) towards the
Minh City on 11-12 November, will cost
Mekong River Commission's
US$25 million over 6 years, and includes
new Flood Management
the establishment of a Regional Flood
Programme.
Management Centre to provide techni-
cal and coordination services to the four
The USAID/OFDA signed
member countries in the Lower Mekong
over the funding on 16 Decem-
Basin. Flood forecasting and early warn-
ber in a small ceremony at the
ings to people living in flood-prone ar-
MRC Secretariat, making it the
Chhoy Pisei
eas are key outputs of the programme.
first donor to sign a financial
commitment to the MRC's
The MRC Flood Management
Flood Management Program-
Programme is the first such programme
me. It is also the first time that US govern-
Mekong. This has been made possible by
to adopt a regional approach, with par-
ment aid has been committed directly to
established by the Appropriat Hydrologi-
ticipation from the four countries on the
the Mekong River Commission since its es-
cal Network Improvement Project (AHNIP),
Lower Mekong. Many donors have ex-
tablishment in 1995.
with support from AusAID.
pressed support for the new programme.
The national governments will provide
The aid from OFDA will be used to pre-
The new funding means it will now be
around $4 million of the programme's
pare "flood-referencing" tools with the help
possible to work with people at the
costs, with the remaining funds being pro-
of partner organizations working directly
grassroots to ensure that they know the re-
vided from international donors.
with communities at high risk of flooding
lationship between flood levels at the main-
in Cambodia and Lao PDR. During the an
stream stations that are constantly moni-
automatic data transmission system
tored, and their local situation. Through the
CEO begins 2nd term
Mr Joern Kristensen
socio-economist with extensive experi- source of scientific and technical infor-
has begun his sec-
ence in management and coordination mation. Over the past two years, the
ond term as Chief
of multi-sectoral development and hu- Commission's international profile has
Executive Officer of
manitarian programmes.
increased greatly. In September this
the Mekong River
year, the Commission was awarded
Commission.
Under the direction of Mr Kristensen the Thiess Services International
since October 1999, the Secretariat has Riverprize in Brisbane, Australia, in
Mr Kristensen, a
sharpened its focus on integrated river recognition of its work in river basin
Danish national, has extensive knowl-
basin management through increased management.
edge of the political, economic and cul-
integration of its programme activi-
tural conditions in Southeast Asia from
ties. Social development and environ- Donor support of the Mekong River
holding senior positions in NGOs and
mental issues involving active public Commission has increased, going from
the United Nations administration in
information have been given a higher alow of US$ 2 million in 1998, to an
the region for over 20 years. He is a
priority, with a greater emphasison the annual average of US$ 17.5 million
trained ence in management and coor-
Commission becoming a reliable since 1999.

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Mekong News
4
October - December 2002/4
MRC Events
New institute for fisheries research
continued awareness-raising about the
importance of the fishery, and continu-
ing efforts made to resolve possible con-
flicts between commercial and small-
scale fishers, and between countries.
And there is still a lot we don't know
about migration and spawning, and
fish habitats."
After its inauguration in February 2003,
around 20 DoF staff will move to the
Inland Fisheries Research and Develop-
ment Institute. The institute will carry
out multi- disciplinary research, with
all staff being exposed to international
standards of research through collabo-
ration with partners including the MRC
Fisheries Programme, ICLARM (The
World Fish Centre) and others.
"Where they go, how they spawn...it When the newly constructed Inland
was like a secret." Mr Sam Nuov, Cam- Fisheries Research and Development
The Institute plans to involve staff from
bodian deputy director of the Depart- Institute at the DoF opens its doors
provincial and district levels, rural
ment of Fisheries (DoF), is talking early next year, there will be, for the
farmers and fishers and the fisheries
about Mekong fish, and the difference first time, a national institution in Cam-
community as much as possible in re-
made by the years of research.
bodia dedicated to the professional re-
search planning and implementation,
search of fisheries, in its biological and
in order to ensure that projects under-
The project for the management of the socio-economic aspects.
taken are relevant, and that results are
freshwater capture fisheries in Cambo-
disseminated to those who can use the
dia began in 1994 through the Mekong Why here, and why now? The idea of
information. Priority areas for research
River Commission and its predecessor, such a research institute was first pro-
will include fish habitats, migration,
the former Mekong Committee, work- posed in 1992, in the context of Danida
consumption, marketing and export of
ing with government agencies in the support to Mekong fisheries research.
fisheries products, freshwater fishing
countries of the Lower Basin. Theories The Great Lake, the Tonle Sap, is com-
gear, valuing of the fishery and re-
about spawning seasons and locations monly regarded as the beating heart of
source management systems.
were validated by the methodical ef- the Mekong river system, and it seemed
forts of fisheries professionals working natural to base such an institute in
with expert fishers at the grassroots. Cambodia, with the expectation that
The Institute has been completed at a
The information they gathered has the knowledge generated would be
cost of around US$450,000 with the
filled in some pieces of a complex shared for fisheries management in all
support of the Cambodian govern-
puzzle, showing fish that make inter- four Lower Mekong countries. While
ment and Danida. Initial expressions
national journeys of hundreds of miles much has been learned about the true
of support for the start-up work have
to spawn, and wait out the dry season value of the fishery and the secret life
been made by donor agencies, but the
in deep pools near the Lao- Cambodian of Mekong fishes, more is needed.
fledgling institute is now seeking fur-
border. It has resulted in a yearly
ther assistance over the next three
"closed season" being enforced on com- Mr Sam Nuov elaborates, "Our view is
years to establish financial and ad-
mercial fishers from June to October, that these resources don't belong to
ministrative management systems
and in key spawning areas being pro- some higher power - they belong to the
that will enable it to proceed on a
tected.
people themselves. There is a need for
strong footing.

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Mekong News
5
October - December 2002/4
MRC Events
Border areas targeted for reforestation
Critical watershed areas on the coun- will be carried out by MRC experts to- a regional boost to recent reform efforts
try borders of Cambodia, Lao PDR, gether with government counterpart introduced by the governments of all
Thailand and Viet Nam will be targeted agencies in each country.
four countries. The project builds on the
for reforestation efforts, with the help
earlier project activities of the Mekong
of a US$4.5 million grant from the Ger- Maintaining forest cover in upland wa- River Commission for classification of
man government to the Mekong River tershed areas is crucial to preserving all watersheds in the Lower Mekong
Commission.
water quality and quantity down- Basin, and will benefit ethnic minority
stream. The average deforestation rate people in the border areas.
Under the agreement, the German gov-
ernment will provide the funds over
In the case of Viet Nam and Cambodia,
five years for forest rehabilitation, train- for the Lower Mekong countries be- the watershed areas of the Se San and
ing of government officers and partici- tween 1990 and 1995 was 1.6 per cent Srepok rivers, which drain into the
pation of local communities in land-use per annum - one of the highest rates in Mekong, are targeted for project activi-
planning.
the world.
ties. In Thailand, the watershed areas
of the Kok and Ing rivers are targeted,
The project for Integrated Forest Reha- The German support through the and in Lao PDR, the Moung Mai river
bilitation in the Lower Mekong Basin
Mekong River Commission will provide watershed area.
International Symposium on the
Workshops and events
Management of Large Rivers and
Fisheries 2 (LARS2):
"Sustaining Livelihoods and
Biodiversity in the New Millenium"
Regional training workshop on
Regional workshop on MRC
11-14 February 2003
water use monitoring in the Lower
navigation strategy
Hotel Le Royal, Phnom Penh
Mekong Basin
22-23 January 2003
Contact person: Jane Williams,
7-8 January 2003
Cambodiana Hotel, Phnom Penh
jane@mrcmekong.org
Intercontinental Hotel, Phnom Penh
Contact person: Lieven Geerinck,
Contact person: Khuon Komar,
geerinck@mrcmekong.org
Regional workshop on basin model-
komar@mrcmekong.org
ling and knowledge base
WWF-MRC Energy Workshop:
28 February 2003
Regional workshop on strategy
"The changing face of energy
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
development for an MRC integrated
markets and implications for
Contact person: Nguyen Tat Dac,
training programme
hydro-electricity development in the
dac@mrcmekong.org
9-10 January 2003
Lower Mekong Basin"
Annex building, MRC Secretariat,
27-28 January 2003
17th Meeting of the MRC Joint
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh
Committee
Contact person: Heng Socheath,
Contact person: Marc Goichot,
11-12 March 2003
socheath@mrcmekong.org
marcg@bigpond.com.kh
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Contact person: Luong Thu Thuy,
Regional workshop on
Regional workshop on content of
thuy@mrcmekong.org
transboundary diagnosis analysis
an MRC integrated training
15-16 January 2003
programme
3rd World Water Forum
Cambodiana Hotel, Phnom Penh
30-31 January 2003
16-23 March 2003
Contact person: Somsanith
Location to be announced
Kyoto, Japan
Nhoybouakong,
Contact person: Heng Socheath,
Contact person on MRC participation:
somsanith@mrcmekong.org
socheath@mrcmekong.org
Terry Clayton, terry@mrcmekong.org

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Mekong News
6
October- December 2002/4
Possible Futures: A Mekong kaleidoscope at the 3rd
World Water Forum
Vietnamese farmers say, "Water comes
planning issues and outline International Water Transport
first, then fertilizer, hard work and
thechallenge of dealing with trans- "A Regional Navigation Strategy for
good breeding." Respect for water as
boundary issues of economic, environ- the Mekong"
the source of life and plenty runs deep
mental and social change. A special 1230-1515 Room J, 2nd floor
in the Mekong region. In thousands of
screening of a half-hour movie, Kyoto International Convention Hall
fishing boats, riverfront shops and
"Mekong: The Mother" will feature in Kyoto, Japan
homes on and off the water small of-
the session, and case studies will be
ferings are made, while major festivals
presented of successful or promising After decades of turmoil and isolation,
centre round water rituals, including
the Mekong River Basin is about to un-
drenching of passers-by during New
dergo a rapid transformation in terms
Year celebrations, floating of candles
of economic and infrastructure
on the river, and boat racing.
development. In the rush to connect
road, rail and air networks, there is a
The diversity of Mekong voices and im-
danger that the many benefits of inter-
ages will feature in a unique interna-
national water transport may be ne-
tional arena next year as a major del-
glected or overlooked entirely.
egation of Mekong region representa-
tives attends the 3rd World Water
This session will present the benefits of
Forum in Kyoto, Japan, from 16 to
navigation improvement on the
23 March.
Mekong, addressing:
The Forum will bring together
· Freedom of navigation on the
8,000 people from around the
Mekong River system - social and
world for eight days of discussion,
economic benefits
presentations and cultural events,
with the aim of moving water is-
· Enhancing regional trade, includ-
sues higher up the political and
ing im
economic agendas of world lead-
provement of port facilities and links
ers.
with maritime transport
In the Mekong region, preparations
· Environment protection, including
have been under way for some months,
safety and transport of dangerous
with MRC officers attending regional
goods
dialogue meetings and providing input
to various Forum activities since early
The session provides a unique agenda-
strategies that have been adopted in
2001. The Commission will host two
setting opportunity for cooperation be-
fisheries, flood management and other
key sessions at the 3rd World Water Fo-
tween public and private sector inter-
sectors. The approach is built around
rum: on Integrated Water Resources
ests in the area of water transport. Pro-
the key questions:What are the possible
Management and on Water Transport.
posals for strategic navigation activi-
futures for the Mekong River Basin?
ties are well-developed and will be pre-
Integrated Water Resources Manage-
sented during the session, which builds
ment"
This is a key session for anyone inter-
on work earlier done in national and
Possible Futures for the Mekong"
ested in regional integration, environ-
regional workshops conducted by the
1230-1515 on Thursday, 20 March
mental governance and ecological
Commission in cooperation with gov-
Room Ohmi 2, Otsu Prince Hotel Con- sustainability issues. Government offi-
ernment agencies in the four member
vention Hall Ohmi Otsu City, Shiga cials from four or more Mekong coun-
countries of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thai-
Prefecture, Japan
tries will attend the session. It is a rare
land and Viet Nam.
opportunity to hear the views of these
This 2 3/4 hour session will present the planners and policy-makers in an infor-
Mekong Water Voices
breadth and diversity of Mekong mal, international setting.
The Water Voices Project is a world

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Mekong News
7
October- December 2002/4
Inland Fisheries - Lynchpin in the
Possible Futures: . . .
Mekong's future
wide effort by the convenors of the 3rd
World Water Forum to collect
By Joern Kristensen, CEO
grassroots opinions and comments on
water issues from people around the
world. These 'voices' will be gathered
in a database which will be used to
help prepare an official Forum State-
ment, to be presentedto an Interna-
tional Ministerial Conference on 22 to
23 March.
Cambodia has contributed the largest
number of voices from any country in
the region. There are now over 150
statements from farmers, fishers and
other ordinary working people now
on-line at the 3rd World Water Forum
with the help of Mak Solieng, Envi-
ronment and Natural Resources Plan-
Peter Degen
ner from the MRC Secretariat. Mean-
while Phin Sopheap, a programme
officer with the Commission's Envi-
ronment Division, is working with the
For the first time in 18 years, inland
ecosystem.
Japan-Asia Friendship Society to help
fisheries will be the subject of a major in-
collect voices from Viet Nam, Lao PDR
ternational conference - the Large Rivers
In this situation, it may be tempting to
and China.
Symposium II in Phnom Penh next Febru-
view natural resources mainly in terms
ary.
of the export income they can bring.
·
All Mekong government par-
Water resources in particular have been
Appropriately, it is being held in the heart
ticipants are welcome to join the
of the Mekong River Basin, where people
taken for granted in the past - especially
Mekong River Commission's 'Pos-
on the floodplains rank among the highest
where water shortage seems not to be
sible Futures' delegation to the 3rd
consumers of fish and fish products in the
an issue, as in the case of the Mekong,
World Water Forum. Further infor-
world. In areas of the greatest abundance -
the 8th largest river in the world.
mation and official invitations may
around the Tonle Sap and in the Mekong
be requested from the Coordinator
Delta - annual fish consumption is about
But the abundance of the Mekong fish-
for MRC participation at the Secre-
60 kg per capita. Based largely on estimates
ery is closely tied to water availability.
tariat.
of freshwater fish consumed in the Lower
The annual flood cycle of the Mekong
Mekong basin, it is thought that
drives fish to spawn, and the flood-
approximately 2 million tonnes of fish and
Non-government and private sector
plains provide rich feeding grounds for
other aquatic animals are caught per year,
participants may request invitations
providing more than 75 per cent of animal
the fry that drift downstream with the
to attend the MRC sessions.
protein intake in the diets of rural people
current. A low flood year means there
in the river basin.
will be less fish to catch. Diverting too
Please contact the MRC Session
much water for irrigation, or blocking
Coordinator,
This focus on inland fisheries is timely.
fish migrations, will also affect fish pro-
email: terry@mrcmekong.org
Though it is still one of the most produc-
duction.
tive and bio-diverse fisheries in the world,
the Mekong river basin now faces a popu-
The issue reflects a central challenge of
lation boom, coupled with widespread ru-
the Mekong River Commission today:
ral sector underemployment in some coun-
the need to assist its member countries
tries. For landless and poorly educated
people, going fishing is one of their very
of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Viet-
few livelihood options. The coming im-
nam in making the transition to more
pacts of increased trade and industrial de-
modern and open economies - a path
velopment, if not properly managed, will
already set by their own governments
also affect the health of the aquatic
- without destroying the environment

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Mekong News
8
October - December 2002/4
Inland Fisheries . . .
keep their situation from getting worse. Water Voices at
While aquaculture production can
on which the livelihoods of the poorer supplement the amount of fish avail- www.worldwaterforum.org
citizens depend.
able, it is simply not possible to grow
on farms the enormous tonnages natu- Vietnamese fish farmer
Inland fisheries around the world have rally produced in the extensive river Using wastewater for rice cultivation
traditionally been undervalued. This is system.
can reduce fertilizer and give high yield
in part due to the difficulty of estimat-
with good quality. Using wastewater
ing total catches when there are many Valuation won't make an immediate for fish raising also saves on food for
small market points and a large part of difference to the people catching and the fish. We only need to feed the fish
the catch is for household consumption. eating the fish. But it puts the govern- with food in the rainy season, when
ments of poorer countries, which are wastewater is diluted. Fish yield is quite
When the former Mekong Committee the ones that depend most on fish and high and good quality.
(the Commission's predecessor) began forests for their livelihoods, in a better
assessing the Mekong fishery in 1994, position to bargain with neighbouring Cambodian farmer
the official estimate of the annual in- countries regarding the use of water re- We live in Trapeang Stong Village,
land fish catch in Cambodia was 50,000 sources, and to make fully informed de- which is located in the remote area of
to 75,000 tonnes. Today this figure has cisions about which development Kampong Speu province. We can plant
been revised upward to 500,000 tonnes. projects they will endorse in their own rice crop and some vegetables in the
There is also a better understanding of countries.
wet season. Normally, in the wet sea-
the nutritional value of fish and fish-
son, we have enough water to use in
based products, which provide animal In the final analysis, not developing the household and for our rice field. But
protein, vitamin A and calcium in the water resources, whether through in- everything is changing from time to
diets of most Mekong people.
creased river trade, hydropower devel- time like this year rainfall started late
opment or agriculture, is not an option. than normal year and caused no water
The real importance of the Mekong fish- The question is how such development for rice or other vegetable cultivation.
ery is that it is both meat and "milk" (the is to take place. In an increasingly
major source of calcium) in a region globalised economy, the sound man- Thai student
where one-third of the population lives agement of inland fisheries may well The river takes care of you. Why you
below the poverty line. But fish alone be the lynchpin ensuring the system don't take care of it. How we can help
cannot lift the growing Mekong popu- works for the most vulnerable of the the river? Why every one don't know
lation out of poverty, though it will Mekong's people.
about World Water Day? How do you
promote? Water is life.
100.0
90.0
Lao father
80.0
Children at schools need to be taught
70.0
Cambodia
on the source of the water, how it is im-
illions)
60.0
m
Lao PDR
portant to lives and the ways how to
50.0
T-LMB
ion (
use it effectively as well as the problem
40.0
VN - LMB
by the flood and the drought together
30.0
20.0
with the reasons why.
Populat
10.0
IMPORTANT
0.0
LINKS
1980
1990
2000
2010
2020
3rd World Water Forum Website
www.worldwaterforum.org
Fig. 1: Population growth 1980-2020 in the Lower Mekong Basin

Registration
Country Population
in
Assessed consumption Assessed total
registration@water-forum3.com
the Lower
in per capita per year
consumption of freshwater
Water Fair & Festival
Mekong
of all fisheries
fish, fish products and
fair@water-forum3.com
Basin
products.
aquatic animals (tonnes
1999/2000
Average (range), kgs
1999/2000)
Water Voice Project
voice@waterforum3.com
Cambodia total
10,775,000
47 (10-89)
508,000
Lao PDR total
5,087,000
26 (17-36)
133,000
MRC Coordinator for 3rd WWF
N-E Thailand
22,439,000
35 (20-41)
795,000
terry@mrcmekong.org
Viet Nam ­
17,958,000 33
(15-60)
597,000
Mekong delta
Note: The series on National Mekong
Committees has been held over due to
TOTAL 56,259,000
36
2,033,000
production deadlines.

Fig. 2: Estimated freshwater fish and aquatic product consumption in the Lower Mekong Basin
It will resume in the 2nd quarter issue of
Mekong News, 2003.

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