Protecting Cambodia’s crucial fish runs Protecting Cambodia’s crucial fish runs Protecting Cambodia’s crucial fish runs

The Mekong River basin faces major challenges from development, climate change and a surge of new dams upriver—more than 135 are under construction or are being planned. Because the changes threaten fish runs and the livelihood and food resources for millions of Cambodians, UW faculty, students and staff have been working with scientists in Southeast Asia. They seek to understand the changes and explore ways to manage and respond to threats to one of the world’s most highly productive fisheries.

John Horne, professor of aquatic and fishery sciences, uses acoustic fish-monitoring systems like the one he is helping to install here to monitor fish migration and fish mortality along the Tonlé Sap tributary in Cambodia. A network of these monitors will help in managing local fisheries to prevent overfishing and investigate changes in the fish populations.