The Don Sahong Dam and Mekong Fisheries
Date:
Friday, June 1, 2007
A science brief from the WorldFish Center exploring the potential impact of the proposed Don Sahong hydroelectric dam on the fisheries of the Lower Mekong River Basin.
Key messages are:
- If built, the Don Sahong dam would be the first dam on the mainstream of the Lower mekong River
- The Hoo Sahong channel, the site of the proposed dam, plays an especially important role in fish migration basinwide.
- The Lower Mekong Basin hosts the most productive freshwater fishery in the world, contributing substantially to national and regional economies, food security and rural livelihoods.
- There are no effective measures in the region to mitigate the impact of dams on fisheries.
- The economic costs from lost fisheries production could outweigh the expected economic benefits of the dam. A comprehensive scientific assessment would be required to evaluate this.
