LARGE SHIPS OR LARGE FISH?
IUCN Press Release, January 13, 2003

Blasting of shoals and rapids in the Upper Mekong River may seriously
endanger fish species

IUCN urges the Governments that share the Mekong River to fully consider the
threats to biodiversity imposed by the blasting of shoals and rapids
undertaken as part of the Upper Mekong Navigation Improvement Project.

The Project proposes the blasting of 21 rapids, shoals and reefs in the
river as part of a scheme to allow 500-tonne ships to navigate the river.
Economically important fish species as well as fish species on the verge of
extinction, such as the giant catfish, depend on these rapids and shoals.
The blasting of their habitat may put these fish in danger and increase the
risk of their extinction.

"The Mekong is home to an estimated 1200 species and is only surpassed in
richness by the Amazon and Congo rivers", said Dr. Jean-Christophe Vié,
Deputy Coordinator of the IUCN Species Programme. "We do not know the impact
on many species but the case of the giant catfish is particularly worrying.
The giant catfish is already listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of
Threatened Species and the proposed blasting of its only known spawning
site will detrimentally affect it. There is a serious risk of driving this
extraordinary fish to extinction".

Full press release
http://www.iucn.org/info_and_news/press/prmekong.pdf

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Conservation body says Mekong plans could wipe out giant catfish

GLAND, Switzerland (AP) _ Plans by China and other Asian countries to open
the upper Mekong River to large shipping could damage the environment and
even drive a giant catfish species into extinction, the 72-nation World
Conservation Union said Monday.

``The Mekong is home to an estimated 1,200 species and is only surpassed in
richness by the Amazon and Congo rivers,'' said Dr. Jean-Christophe Vie,
deputy coordinator of the species program at the union.

Other environmental organizations have already been campaigning for a halt
to the three-year project and a thorough study of what the consequences would
be if it is realized.

Chinese authorities say the impact will be minimal and even beneficial,
fostering regional trade and helping alleviate poverty.

The union, known as IUCN, is unsure how many species would be affected by
the blasting of rapids, shoals and reefs in opening the river to 500-ton
vessels, Vie said.

But, he added, ``the case of the giant catfish is particularly worrying.''

Vie noted that IUCN has already included the giant catfish as endangered on
its widely published ``red list'' of species threatened with extinction.

``The proposed blasting of its only known spawning site will detrimentally
affect it,'' Vie said. ``There is a serious risk of driving this
extraordinary fish to extinction.''

The catfish may grow to 3 meters (10 feet) in length and weigh up to 250
kilograms (550 pounds).

The agency said it does not oppose using rivers for transportation, but that
the China, Myanmar, Laos and Thailand should conduct a comprehensive study
of the environmental impact before they do any more blasting.

Opponents of the project have rejected as ``fundamentally flawed'' and
speculative a six-month environmental impact study by a group of experts
from the four countries.

An IUCN statement said, ``Taking out the proposed rock outcrops could reduce
water flows in the river during the dry season and significantly affect
downstream fisheries and biodiversity.''

IUCN offered to help the four nations in seeking the best solution in making
the Mekong more navigable.

The countries signed an agreement in 2000 to set up the Mekong Navigation
Channel Improvement Project, running from China's Yunnan province to Luang
Prabang in Laos.