On 25^th, April 2013, in activity of Project “ Using and systematizing fishers’ local ecological knowledge to monitor and manage fisheries, with emphasis on three globally threatened fish species (the Giant Catfish [Pangasianodon gigas], Sanitwongsei’s catfish [Pangasius sanitwongsei] and Jullien's Golden Carp [Probarbus jullieni]), in the Lower Mekong River system of Long An Province, Vietnam” were financed by Birdlife International, Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF). Research center for Resource and Rural development (RECERD) coordinate with Lang Sen wetland Reserve organize training course on  “identify and rescue endangered fish species” for Lang Sen staff and communities around Lang Sen wetland Reserve.

There were 60 trainee in this training course. Among those present were officers in Lang Sen wetland Reserve and fisherman in two communes around wetland Reserve (Vinh Dai commune, Vinh Loi, Tan Hung district).

This training course was equiped for trainee with knowledge and awareness of meaning and important role on the conservation of valuable of endangered fish species, biological characteristics: distribution, source of food, repreductive crop, the level of dangerous and pressing, characteristics of identifying three globally threatened fish species (the Giant Catfish [Pangasianodon gigas], Sanitwongsei’s catfish [Pangasius sanitwongsei] and Jullien's Golden Carp [Probarbus jullieni]) and method of rescue this fish…

One of the creative point of this project as well as trainning course were to encourage and mobilize the participation of communities on conservation, this was very limited in VietNam before.  Due to this reason, overfishing and destructive fishing gears which were threating to the survival of all species.

By encouraging communities participation on the conservation: there were increasing number of guard and sharing local ecological knowledge on conservation mission between local authorities and communities. Besides, communities who participated not only fishery statistics and number species but it also monitored endangered fish species and prevented harm factors… Acording to project plan, Lang Sen mini rescue – centre for endangered fish species would be built on May, 2013. The endangered fish species found out by local people and Lang Sen staff in urgent case will bring to here for curing and treatment before coming back to natural enviroment. With the hope of building this rescue – centre the mission of conservation and rescue endangered fish species in Long An province will be improved

Xuan Lap – RECERD