Fish Habitat Conservation in the Lancang River Basin
Habitat conservation is the most important means of mitigating the impacts of hydropower development on fish resources.An overview of the protection scheme and practices,and the resulting effects on the Lancang River basin fishery,is given here to support the adaptive management of fish resources and habitat necessary for sustainable hydropower development.The Lancang (Mekong) River is an international river,originating in the Tanggula Mountains of Qinghai Province and flowing through Qinghai,Xizang Autonomous Region (Tibet) and Yunnan in China,with the total length of 2 153 km and fall of 4 583 m.The Lancang River represents a tremendous source of hydropower and a development scheme for 18 cascaded hydropower stations on the main stem of Lancang River has been established by Huaneng Lancang River Hydropower Co.,Ltd.Fish resource conservation will be implemented simultaneously with the hydropower development,following standards set by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and characteristics of the fish resource.Above Gongguoqiao,in the Kagong section of the Lancang River,the habitat is high plateau and the fish are primarily plateau species.Below Gongguoqiao,fish species are primarily oriental region fish fauna,especially below Jinghong.Thus,habitat protection for plateau fish must be accomplished in the upper river,while habitat protection for oriental region fish fauna is necessary in the lower river.The Kagong section was selected as plateau habitat.The section between Yuelong and Banda connects the Banda reservoir area and includes two tributaries (Sequ and Maiqu Rivers).This complex ecosystem provides habitat conditions necessary for the entire life history of plateau fish.Habitat protection downstream includes the Nanban River Rare Fish Reserve,the main stream and tributaries below the Nanban River estuary and the Nan'a River that maintain good habitat connectivity with the Mekong River.Currently,the Cege,Yuelong and Banda Rivers,along with the lower reach of Rumei Reservoir and the Kagong section maintain flow in the Lancang River.Water flow is also maintained for 51.9 km between Wunonglong and Gushui,26 km between Tuoba and Didi,and in the section between Ganlan Dam and Nanna River.In addition to protecting the area along the main stem,545.5 km of tributary habitat will be protected,including the Sequ,Maiqu,Daqiao,Yongchun,Jidu,Deqing,Luozha,Xiaohei,Weiyuan,Buyuan and Nan'a Rivers.A total of 25 fish species were observed in the Buyuan River in 2012 and the total increased to 37 species in 2014.The number of fish and fish species both increased significantly in Jidu River after deconstruction of several small hydropower dams and native fish species included 76％ of the native species found in the Lancang River.Other conservation strategies were also implemented:establishment of the fishery protection management bureau for fish resources in the lower Lancang River;routine inspection of fish protection measures;investigation of habitat;and enhanced laws,regulations and propaganda for fishery resource protection.Based on existing conditions,continued work on habitat conservation is recommended and suggestions include promoting fish habitat conservation awareness among managers and the public and long-term monitoring of fish resources and environmental quality.
fisheryhabitat conservationhydropower projectLancang River
国家科技期刊平台
NSTL
万方数据
维普
