Employing Geographical Information Systems in Fisheries Management in the Mekong River: a case study of Lao PDR Kaviphone Phouthavongs

Transcription

1 Employing Geographical Information Systems in Fisheries Management in the Mekong River: a case study of Lao PDR Kaviphone Phouthavongs A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the Degree of Master of Science School of Geosciences University of Sydney June 2006

2 ABSTRACT The objective of this research is to employ Geographical Information Systems to fisheries management in the Mekong River Basin. The study uses artisanal fisheries practices in Khong district, Champasack province Lao PDR as a case study. The research focuses on integrating indigenous and scientific knowledge in fisheries management; how local communities use indigenous knowledge to access and manage their fish conservation zones; and the contribution of scientific knowledge to fishery co-management practices at village level. Specific attention is paid to how GIS can aid the integration of these two knowledge systems into a sustainable management system for fisheries resources. Fieldwork was conducted in three villages in the Khong district, Champasack province and Catch per Unit of Effort / hydro-acoustic data collected by the Living Aquatic Resources Research Centre was used to analyse and look at the differences and/or similarities between indigenous and scientific knowledge which can supplement each other and be used for small scale fisheries management. The results show that GIS has the potential not only for data storage and visualisation, but also as a tool to combine scientific and indigenous knowledge in digital maps. Integrating indigenous knowledge into a GIS framework can strengthen indigenous knowledge, from un processed data to information that scientists and decision-makers can easily access and use as a supplement to scientific knowledge in aquatic resource decision-making and planning across different levels. The results show that when scientific and indigenous knowledge are both stored digitally in GIS databases, a variety of analysis can be done. Multiple layers or visualising functions in ArcGIS are an example of ways in which indigenous and scientific knowledge can be combined in GIS. Maps of deep pools and important fishing grounds gathered using GPS and indigenous knowledge provide base maps of aquatic resources in the study area. The attribute table associated with the map links characteristics of each point, including fishing gear and species found in each pool as well as spawning grounds and migration periods. This information is useful for management and planning purposes. i

3 This research illustrates that mental maps and GIS digital maps can be used for fisheries management at different levels. Where mental maps are suitable for communicating with the local community and have the potential for use in fisheries co-management in small-scale fisheries; GIS may be appropriated for data storage and analysis at provincial and national levels, it can be used as a communication tool amongst stakeholders to monitor and understand the aquatic environment. ii

4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I would like to thank the DANIDA/NARI project for providing financial support for this research. Special thanks must go to Mr. Xaypradeth Choulamany, former Director of LARReC and the present Director Mr. Lieng Khamsivilay, for their support and for giving me the opportunity to do this research. Thanks also to Mr. Sten Sverdrup-Jensen, Technical Advisor, NARI Project, for encouraging to me to continue with my studies. At the University of Sydney, I would like to thank my supervisor Associate Professor Dr. Philip Hirsch and associate supervisor Dr. Eleanor Bruce for their advice and guidance in helping me go in the right direction. Thanks also to Simon, Krishna, and Cameron for their comments and suggestions on my thesis. Thanks to Jagbir Singh for being kind and friendly and to Joan Schreijaeg for offering help and reading my thesis. Back home, I would like to thank my colleagues at the Living Aquatic Resources Research Centre for helping me by providing and sending information related to my research. Thanks to Sinthavong, Kongpheng and John for correcting the scientific names of fish, and also Douangkham and Chanthone for providing information on CPUE and deep pools. Thanks to Terry for his wise discussion of the CPUE study. Thanks also goes to government officials in the Champasack province and the Khong district who provided assistance to me with my field research. Special thanks must go to the village headmen and fishermen who made their time available to me for discussion and who provided me with useful information, as well as a place to sleep and excellent Lao food during my fieldwork. Without their help, this research could not have been completed. Last but not least, I wish to thank my family, especially my wife, who has taken great care of my sons during my study time in Australia. I would also like to acknowledge my father, Tout Phouthavongs, who continues to work hard to support our family and provide the opportunity for all of us to study. I am not the only one who has a chance to study at the Masters level in Australia. My brothers also graduated and received their Masters degrees in Australia in 1992 and Thank you Dad. iii

5 TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract... i Acknowledgement... iii Table of contents... iv List of figures... ix List of tables... x Acronyms... xi Chapter I: Introduction General introduction Background and rational Research objective and questions Research design and methods Research design Methodology Secondary data collection Village stay and observation Semi structure open-ended interview Qualitative questionnaire design Research village Fieldwork methods and data collection Field data collection Mental mapping and global positioning system Outline of thesis Chapter II: Knowledge systems Introduction Indigenous knowledge iv

6 4.3 Fisheries co-management Catch Per Unit of Effort and Hydro Acoustic Study Catch Per Unit of Effort Hydro acoustic study GIS and natural resource management Conclusion Chapter III: The Mekong River Fisheries Introduction The importance of fisheries to the people in the Lower Mekong River Basin Capture fisheries and aquaculture development Laos fisheries profile Fisheries of Khong District Conclusion Chapter IV: Spatial location Introduction Scientific knowledge Geographical Information Systems and GPS Digital base map GPS data acquisition and processing Spatial location Village location Deep pools and other natural resources The importance fishing grounds Summary Community knowledge Mental mapping Geographical knowledge..62 v

7 Preparing of materials and meetings Drawing a map Geographical references Place and location Distance and depth Community knowledge of deep pools Fishing ground and method Summary Comparative discussion Conclusion Chapter V : Fish species and abundance Introduction Scientific knowledge CPUE study in the Khong District Understanding the migration process Upstream migration Relative index of fish abundance and fish species National fisheries statistics Summary Community Knowledge Perceptions of fish abundance Fishermen knowledge of hydrological changes and lunar phases Fishermen knowledge of fish habit and behaviours Perceptions of species and catches The appearance of rare species The total fish catch in the main fishing season Summary Comparative discussion Conclusion vi

8 Chapter VI: Deep pool and fish stocks Introduction Scientific knowledge Theoretical principles of hydro-acoustic systems The use of acoustic systems Deep pools study in the Khong District Fish densities and behaviours Fish stock and size composition Summary Community Knowledge The importance of deep pools for fish stock Deep pools as recreational and cultural resources Deep pools and fishery management in Ban Don Houat Fish conservation zones Fishermen knowledge of fish stock Deep pools and fishery management in Ban Hatxaykhoun Fish conservation zones Fishermen knowledge of fish stock Deep pools and fishery management in Ban Hat Deep pool management systems Fishermen knowledge of fish stock Summary Comparative discussion Conclusion Chapter VII: Synthesis and theoritical analysis Introduction Synthesis Incorporating IK into GIS Presentation of result into GIS vii

9 Multiple representation and analysis tools Spatial analyst Summary Theoretical analysis Fisheries co-management The need for integration of SK and IK GIS as tool for communication and visualisation The implication of fish abundance and decline Conclusion Chapter VIII: Conclusions Introduction Research findings Significance of research Implications of research Further research Conclusion References viii

10 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1.1 Research diagram Figure 1.2 Map of Lao PDR provinces Figure 1.3 Geographical location of study villages Figure 1.4 Thesis outline diagram Figure 1.5 Map of deep pools in Khong District Figure 4.1 The layers and its attribute display in Arc GIS Figure 4.2 Digital map of fishing ground in Ban Don Houat Figure 4.3 Digital map of fishing ground in Ban Hatxaykhoun Figure 4.4 Digital map of fishing ground in Ban Hat Figure 4.5 Mental map of Ban Don Houat Figure 4.6 Mental map of Ban Hat Figure 4.7 Mental map of Ban Hatxaykhoun Figure 5.1 CPUE data in Ban Hat ( ) Figure 5.2 Mean CPUE during CNY and relative water depths in Ban Hat Figure 5.3 Mean CPUE in FCZ vs. Mean CPUE in the Reference site in Ban Don Houat Figure 5.4 Mean CPUE in FCZ vs. Mean CPUE in the Reference site in Ban Hatxaykhoun Figure 6.1 Basic components of acoustic system Figure 6.2 A relationship between mean target strength and fish size Figure 6.3 Total fish densities (fish /ha) in deep pools and FCZs Figure 6.4 Total fish biomass (Sa /ha) in deep pools and FCZs Figure 6.5 A relationship between depth and target strength (db) in FCZ Ban Don Houat Figure 6.6 A relationship between depth and target strength (db) in FCZ Ban Hatxaykhoun 113 Figure 6.7 A relationship between depth and target strength (db) in Khoum Done Phi Figure A relationship between depth and target strength (db) in Ban Hat deep pool 114 Figure 7.1 Conceptual framework for the integration of IK and SK Figure 7.2 Multiple previews showing province layer and river layer Figure 7.3 Select by attribute : Champasack province Figure 7.4 Clip analysis tool: Champasack province layer and river Figure 7.5 Multiple previews of the riverine system and the deep pools in the study areas Figure 7.6 Combining SK and IK: Deep pools in the study area, including river bottom ix

11 condition Figure 7.7 Combining SK and IK: Important fishing grounds in the study areas Figure 7.8 Indigenous knowledge map: common fishing areas Figure 7.9 Indigenous knowledge map: Fishing gear used Figure 7.10 Indigenous knowledge map: traditional management system Figure 7.11 Species distribution: IK vs. SK Figure 7.12 Indigenous knowledge map: the appearance of rare species Figure 7.13 Fish biomass in selected deep pools Figure 7.14 Fish densities in selected deep pools Figure 7.15 The relationship between the depth of pools and the number of brood stock in selected deep pools Figure 7.16 Map of Done Houat and FCZ (top), species distribution in FCZ (left) and 2D map of Vang Nong Hai fish conservation zone (right) Figure 7.17 (A) General over view map of Khoum done phi, (B) 2D map of Khoum done phi and (C) Fishing gear use at different depths and species catch Figure 7.18 Fishing ground in Hat village (right) and fish density in Veun Songkham (left) with common fishing areas LIST OF TABLES Table 4.1 Deep pools and their charecteristicts Table 5.1 Some parameters of the migratory species found in Ban Hat Table 5.2: Fish species from CPUE vs. species from IK Table 5.3: The important fish species caught in study areas Table 6.1: Fish species using deep pools as a habitat Table 7.1: The attribute table of deep pools Table 7.2 : Layers and its features x

12 ACRONYMS CNY CPUE DAFO DLF FAO FCZs FIP GPS GIS IK IDRC LARReC LMRB LNMRC MRC MAF NARI NAFRI NGOs PAFO SK SEAFDEC STEA UNESCO UTM UXO Chinese New Year Catch per Unit of Effort District Agriculture and Forestry Office Department of Livestock and Fishery Food and Agriculture Organization Fish Conservation Zones Fishery Program Global Positioning System Geographical Information System Indigenous Knowledge International Development Research Centre of Canada Living Aquatic Resources Research Centre Lower Mekong River Basins Lao National Mekong River Commission Mekong River Commission Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry National Aquatic Research Resources Institute (project) National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute Non-government Organizations Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Office Scientific Knowledge Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Centre Science, Technology and Environment Agency United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation Universal transverse of Mercator Unexploited Ordnance xi