Monitoring and evaluation Co-management in Nam Oon Dam

Date: 14-18 November 2016

Venue: Sakon Nakhon Province, Thailand

Objectives:

1. To monitor catch data from logbook recording by fishers themselves,

2. To monitor fisheries management measures during close season of Nam Oon Reservoir,

3. To monitor fish processing product in the community operated by women’s group,

4. To monitor on the fish species at the landing site.

Result

SEAFDEC team, DOF staff and Fisheries Patrol unit of Nam Oon Dam had a discussion at Nam Oon Dam Fishery Management Unit about the objectives of this trip. The trip would visit two landing site at Ban Dong Kham Pho and Ban Kud Takap in early morning with the aim to observe the fish catch composition from the fishing operation in Nam Oon Dam.

We found two fishers who use gill net fishing gear. They set the gill net in the evening and harvested in the morning. Most of catch was Tilapia. They sell their catch to the villager at house by themselves and sometimes sell to middlemen when their catch is high volume. Moreover, we have discussed with the middlemen at Ban Dong Kham Pho about fish product. The middlemen explained that they bought fish product from the aquaculture in Banglen, Nakorn Prathom Province to serve as raw material for making fish processing product due to the fish product from Nam Oon Dam is insufficiency for consumption in the community. Moreover, SEAFDEC visited landing site at Ban Kud Takap community and met a fisher who coming back from fishing by using longline fishing gear. The fish catch fish species was Clown featherback and sold in the village.

Furthermore, the trip would visit fish processing group in order to share knowledge on group management and marketing for fish processing product. The Fish Processing Group was established at Ban Donh Kham Pho consisted of 30 members. The fish species mostly are Clown featherback and lipped barb, which was bought from 5 fishers in the community about 150-200 kg/day. The fish collected divide into 2 parts: 50% sell to the middlemen and the rest 50% for fish processing product. The main fish processing product are fish fermented cover by banana leave and Dry smoky fish. The members who are involved in fish processing activity gain the income with higher rate than minimum wage and get the dividend. The marketing channel was operated through Internet Social Network system (facebook and line) and main product is fermented fish which sold nearby Khonkaen Province and Bangkok. Dry smoky fish product is distributed in the village and neighbor village. This group has a fund that can provided loan for members.

In addition, the sign buoy that provided by SEAFDEC for clarifying the conservation area between Ban Dong Kam Pho and Ban Nachuak communities was good response from the community. Moreover, SEAFDEC also plan to install the sign buoy to indicate the conservation zone at Ban Thai Chareon community. The survey on the conservation area and position for installation of sign buoy was conducted by using patrol boat and Drone. The positions for sign buoy installing was confirmed by Head of village of Ban Thai Chareon. The sign buoy can be a symbol to indicate the conservation area for the outsider who come to fishing in the conservation area. 

Moreover, the local meeting organized in 3 points. The meeting would present the result of catching data from fishing logbook recorded by fishers during 1 March - 5 April (before close season) and comparison catch between year 2015 and 2016. Moreover, the meeting discussed with the communities on the fisheries management measure that is implemented in the Nam Oon Dam after close season including the problems on fisheries. The result from the local meeting was showed below:

point 1 at Ban Na Than which composed of Ban Na lao, Ban Huay Bun, Ban Nong Phua and Ban Na Than. The fishers attended the meeting were 19 fishers. The result of point 1 showed that the average catch/trip of fisher in 2015 is 7.6 kg and 5.1 kg in 2016. The meeting suggested to provide the incentive to fishermen who have recorded the fishing logbook. SEAFDEC will prepare T-shirt to give the fishermen volunteer who fill out the catch logbook.

Point 3 at Ban Thai Chareon which composed of Ban Kud Takap, Ban Nong Pling, Ban Na Kham and Ban Thai Chareon. The fishers attended the meeting were 19 fishers. The result of point 3 showed that the average catch/trip of fisher is 5.2 and 5.9 kg in 2015 and 2016, respectively. The fishers expressed their opinion that the mesh size of gill net should not smaller than 3 cm.

Point 4 at Ban Dong Kham Pho which composed of Ban Na Chuak, Ban Dong Kham Pho, Ban Nong Bua and Ban Khong Pakuay. The fishers attended the meeting were 21 fishers. The result of point 4 showed that the average catch/trip is 10.1 and 7.9 kg in 2015 and 2016, respectively. The point 4 can catch fish more than other point because they are full time fishers. The fishers shared the information that Clown featherback was difficult to find in this year due to the climate change. The dry season is longer led to low water level and this species stay in deep water level.

In addition, SEAFDEC visited the Hatchery pond, the one activity of Nam Oon Patrol Unit. The fingerling would be produced and hatchery before release into Nam Oon reservoir in each community. This hatchery pond has the fingerling of Mekong giant catfish, Java Barb and Freshwater prawn. 

Discussion on the future work

SEAFDEC will prepare the sign buoys to install in Nam Oon reservoir for indicating the conservation area at Ban Thai Chareon Community. The estimate period for installation is in February 2017.

The boat registration and fishing gear licensing are necessary for the fishers. It need to encourage the fishers and support them for fishing legally. It might be can protected from illegal fishing outsiders.

Nam Oon Dam Fisheries Patrol Unit should inform the fishers around Nam Oon Dam on the importance of boat registration and fishing gear licensing including the registration fee. Therefore, the local meeting on the process of registration will be organized in the community around Nam Oon Dam for more understanding and participation of fishers.

In order to do the boat registration and fishing gear licensing, the mobile unit system from the government officers, who take responsibility on these, should come to the community for easily registration.