The Mekong River and her tributaries in China, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR or Laos) are the life-blood for millions of people. Southern Lao PDR, comprising the four provinces of Salavan, Sekong, Attapeu and Champasak, is certainly no exception. The people of the south rely heavily on the region’s rich freshwater aquatic resources, and aquatic animals have long provided them with a large proportion of their food and income. The most notable aquatic resource of southern Laos are the indigenous fish. Apart from the Amazon River basin in South America, and possibly the Congo River basin in Africa, the Mekong River basin is the richest in the World in terms of
freshwater fish biodiversity. It certainly supports more fish species than any other river system in Asia.
