Fisheries knowledge - uptake and impact in the Mekong region

There are many organizations working on various aspects of fisheries in the Mekong basin. Collectively they produce considerable information about the fish and fisheries that comes in many forms – technical and scientific publications, policy briefs and management recommendations, newsletters, commentaries in newspapers, films, books, and more. The communication materials cover virtually all aspects of fisheries (such as biology, management, public participation and governance), although the coverage is not even across all the disciplines. Information is available in English and the languages of the countries of the Mekong. So, with all this information available, we might assume that there is good recognition of the importance of fisheries in the region.

While this that may be correct in some quarters (particularly among fisheries people!), it is still true to say that fisheries often do not get adequately represented or considered by planning agencies involved in development of the resources of the Mekong. It follows that we need to consider how fisheries concerns can be more consistently and fully integrated into Mekong Basin development planning and management processes. Are we not supplying the right information? Are we not communicating with the right people? Do we have good information but present it poorly? Do we not present it in the correct way or to the right people? Is the fisheries information inconvenient, or perhaps in conflict with government policies? Do we need totally different strategies or methods for communicating fisheries knowledge?