Advocates argue scaly fish can pass through river barriers
RESEARCH TO develop a ladder to help native fish navigate upstream in rivers facing major hydropower project construction may be the best hope for preserving fish biodiversity, says an organisation dedicated to fisheries.
But at least one leading academic is not convinced.
Khom Silpachan, secretary-general of the South East Asian Fisheries Development Centre (SEAFDEC), said fish ladders developed to suit Thailand’s native fish species could help them migrate as they swim up rivers to spawn. The ladder would help the fish swim around dams, he added.
Khom argued that a breakthrough in ladder research would ensure the survival of fish species in Thai rivers. And it could be adapted by other countries in the region, especially those bordering the Mekong River, where many dams are being constructed on its main tributary.
“Thailand and our Asean neighbours are a biodiversity hotspot for freshwater fish, but right now they are facing a threat to their survival. Recently, there have been many irrigation and hydropower projects in the region. The structures obstruct the migration passage of fish up and down the rivers,” he said. Many more irrigation and hydropower projects are being planned.
“Many kinds of fish have to migrate upriver to reproduce. Cutting up their migration route often results in a great decline in the number of fish or even extinction of the species. “Therefore, the fish ladder is a very essential innovation to help the fish migration and ensure the survival of their species.”
Dispute over fish ladders to save species