VIENTIANE, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Lao and international fishery experts are set to discuss ways to promote greater fishery productivity in the region to push for food security at an upcoming conference scheduled to take place in Lao capital Vientiane.
The Lower Mekong Fish Passage Conference, scheduled to take place from Nov. 14 to 17, is expected to bring together more than 150 experts from Australia, the United States, Europe, South America and Southeast Asian countries of Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia to discuss innovative approaches to securing regional fisheries productivity as irrigation and other river development projects expand, reported local Vientiane Times on Monday.
"The region is currently experiencing an unprecedented boom in river development projects which will increase agricultural and power generation output for years to come, so there is a need to ensure these projects do not affect food security," Bounthong Bouahom, Director General of the National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI) was quoted as saying.
"It is important that our development activities do not impact our important food source - fish. Mekong fish species are highly migratory, requiring access to different habitats at many life stages," he added.
Hosted by Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the conference will discuss how applied research can be used to enhance policy and decision-making across the region.
It aims to bring together government agencies, developers, researchers, local provincial and district leaders and natural resource managers to help share knowledge on the successes and opportunities regarding fishery sustainability in the region.
