Cambodia: The Giving Flood

Pulitzer Center There was a traffic jam on the main canal of Kampong Luong, a village that begins on the shore of Cambodia’s Lake Tonle Sap and sprawls out onto the water. My sampan slowed, then stopped, the roar of its outboard softening to a growl that let in the clamor of a working waterfront. People called out from fishing boats laden with nets and yellow, plastic fuel jugs. They haggled Read More…

‘Third water’ makes aquaculture possible in Cambodian mountains

The Japan Times 15 May 2014 A Japanese technique for creating artificial river and seawater is expected to enable Cambodian farmers to open three prawn farms this summer — in the mountains. The artificial water is a blend of fresh water and a carefully measured mix of minerals, including salts of sodium, potassium and calcium. “This is magic water that enables aqua farming without Read More…

Protection urged for home of rare fish

South China Morning Post 23 April 2014 The possible home of the endangered and highly priced Hong Kong grouper in Sai Kung should be turned into a marine park to better conserve the species of fish, green groups say. The call came after the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department took the area in Port Shelter off the priority list for designation as a marine park, saying further Read More…

Seafood study: Up to 32 percent imported to U.S. is caught illegally

Washington Post 21 April 2014 The seafood on your dinner plate is starting to look a little fishy. A new study that examined illegal and unreported marine harvests brought into the United States found that some fish shouldn’t be on U.S. tables. Up to 32 percent of imported wild shrimp, crab, salmon, pollock, tuna and other catch is poached, according to the study. Scientists are Read More…

Water level in Mekong River drops significantly

National News Bureau of Thailand 18 April 2014 The water level in the Mekong River is constantly decreasing as drought continues, while 200 families in Maha Sarakham Province are in urgent need of assistance. The water level in the Mekong River that passes through Chiang Rai Province has seen a significant drop, as rocks and dunes have resurfaced, causing problems to water transportation Read More…

Vandal kills giant catfish in park pond

Bangkok Post 16 April 2014 A vandal has killed a Mekong giant catfish being raised in a pond in a public park in Trang municipality and loved by local people, causing much sadness. Chaninwit Sinchai, 48, chairman of Kapang Surin community in Muang district on Wednesday afternoon showed Trang police the carcass of the young but mature fish, which was around 1.6 metres long and weighed over Read More…

Fish for good in the developing world

Huffington Post 26 March 2014 Our oceans make up 71 percent of the Earth's surface, contain 80 percent of all biodiversity, drive global weather systems and have provided a wonderful and diverse bounty of seafood for millennia. Current harvests deliver nearly one-fifth of total human protein needs. Millions of livelihoods also depend upon this last great global industry harvesting a wild Read More…

South Africa, Vietnam work together to end poaching

News24 25 March 2014 Cape Town – Rhino poaching in Africa is consistently rising, illustrating that poachers have the upper hand. According to the SABC, over the past few years poaching in SA and the African continent have destroyed the efforts made by conservationists and authorities. Environmental Affairs Deputy Minister Rejoice Mabudafhasi has created links with her Vietnamese Read More…

Fishing nations pledge cooperation on sustainable capacity

International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development 25 March 2014 The United States, the EU, Japan, Philippines, Indonesia, and Colombia earlier this month pledged to scale up efforts to counteract overcapacity of fishing fleets. “We note that when overcapacity contributes to overfishing, it constitutes a serious threat to the conservation and sustainable exploitation of Read More…

Stanford professor maps by-catch as unintended consequence of global…

Stanford News 19 March 2014 Seabirds, sea turtles and marine mammals such as dolphins may not appear to have much in common, other than an affinity for open water. The sad truth is that they are all unintended victims – by-catch – of intensive global fishing. In fact, accidental entanglement in fishing gear is the single biggest threat to some species in these groups. A new analysis Read More…