Background
Since the early 1990s, fishing has become a precarious livelihood. Rapid population growth, aggressive commercial fishing operations, and damaging, water-related infrastructure projects threaten to deplete fish populations, a critical source of food and income for rural families.
Oxfam works with communities and governments throughout the region to protect aquatic resources before they are irreversibly damaged and to ensure fish stocks provide for future generations.
Why Fish are Important
For the people of the Lower Mekong Basin, fish are:
- A primary source of protein—Along with rice, fish is the backbone of Cambodia's food security, accounting for over 75 percent of animal protein consumption. In Laos, fish accounts for 85 percent of all consumed protein. Without fish, many would suffer malnutrition.
- A key source of income—Many families fish as well as farm to produce food and generate income. Having a second source of income can protect a family during times of drought, pest outbreaks, or floods.
- A potentially lucrative commodity—The value of the fish trade on the global market is higher than rice and coffee combined. In Cambodia alone, inland fisheries produce 200,000 to 430,000 tons of fish each year, with an estimated retail value of $500 million US. If fishers and governments can better manage this potential source of wealth, fish could help lift these people out of poverty.