Aquatic Biodiversity and Fisheries Management in the Impacted Areas of NT2 Hydropower

The Lower Mekong Basin great potential for hydropower development especially in Laos. Nam Theun 2 Hydropower project is a large hydropower project in Laos, consists of a 50 meters high dam on the Theun River and create a large reservoir approximately 450 square kilometers of the Nakai Plateau. The impacts of the dam are cover large areas include Nakai plateau, Nam Theun and Xe Bang Fai basin. Those areas are important for aquatic habitats and biodiversity as well as fisheries activities is becoming the most important source of household income in that area, cover 28.8%; about 72% of total annual fish catch is for sale and 24% use for self-consumption, approximately 17 kg/person/year. NT2 hydropower project is one of the good practices and could be one good example of other hydropower dams in Laos. The co-management system of reservoir fisheries is one effective management program used in NT2 reservoir and input control such as prohibited zone, fisherman, fishing boat and trader licenses and participation rule it seems to contribute to sustainable resource use to some extent. However, there is no output control in this area. TAC is quite effective control to manage sustainable resource use.