Vam Nao Deep Pools: A Critical Habitat for Pangasius krempfi and other Valuable Species in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

Abstract

631 A survey of deep pools in a certain part of the Mekong Delta, southern Vietnam identified 23 deep pools based on both local knowledge and bathymetric maps. Vam Nao areas with 3 deep pools are important habitats for many Mekong species due to capture of large and important fishes such as krempfi catfish (Pangasius krempfi, Pangasiidae); giant barb (Catlocarpio siamensis, Cyprinidae); small-scale croaker (Boesemania microlepis, Sciaenidae) and soldier river barb (Cyclocheilichthys enoplos, Cyprinidae). This indicated that Vam Nao deep pools are critical habitats for Pangasius krempfi and other important fish species in the Mekong delta. Important deep pools acting as refuge habitats or spawning habitats during the dry season should be designated as fish conservation zones to protect fish stocks. Moreover, fishing co-management should be the good solution to effective management as fishing regulation enforcement is likely impossible to apply in Mekong inland fisheries. In addition, quality and quantity of existing deep pools have been affected due to increased silt deposition that resulted from dam constructions and flood mitigation schemes. Hence, water management projects should assess their possible impacts to the fisheries before implementing