The Restoration of Fresh Water Fish in the Papayom Canal by Community Participation

Abstract

             The objective of this research was to develop methods of increasing the abundance of fish in the Papayom canal. Three kinds of fish habitats made from coconut, shakhotaka and bamboo branches were placed in three study sites, namely Ban Pab, Ban Taton and Ban Wangrae. One thousand marked yellow mystus (Hemibagrus nemurus) and 5,000 herbivorous fish fingerlings were stocked in each study site by community participation. The results showed that seven species of fish belonged to 4 families were founded at the beginning of the study whereas a total of fifteen species of fish belonged to 10 families were found at the artificial habitat site and at the end of the study. Besides, mature yellow were also found at the study sites. The result from this study indicated that the management of a water ecosystem by constructing fish habitats combined with fish restocking (small herbivore and carnivore fish) resulted in an increasing number species of fish in the Papayom canal. The information from this study can be used as a guideline for fish conservation and restoration in small rivers so that the sustainable use of natural resources can be maintained.