The past decade has seen increased international recognition of the importance of the services provided by natural ecosystems. It is unclear however whether such international awareness will lead to improved environmental management in many regions. We explore this issue by examining the specific case of fish migration and dams on the Mekong river. We determine that dams on the Mekong mainstem and major tributaries will have a major impact on the basin's fisheries and the people who depend upon them for food and income. We find no evidence that current moves towards dam construction will stop, and consider two scenarios for the future of the fisheries and other ecosystems of the basin. We conclude that major investment is required in innovative technology to reduce the loss of ecosystem services, and alternative livelihood strategies to cope with the losses that do occur.

The migration of Siamese mud carp (Henicorhynchus siamensis and H. lobatus), two of the most economically important fish species in the Mekong River, was studied using an otolith microchemistry technique. Fish and river water samples were collected in seven regions throughout the whole basin in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia over a 4 year study period. There was coherence between the elements in the ambient water and on the surface of the otoliths, with strontium (Sr) and barium (Ba) showing the strongest correlation. The partition coefficients were 0.409–0.496 for Sr and 0.055 for Ba. Otolith Sr-Ba profiles indicated extensive synchronized migrations with similar natal origins among individuals within the same region. H. siamensis movement has been severely suppressed in a tributary system where a series of irrigation dams has blocked their migration. H. lobatus collected both below and above the Khone Falls in the mainstream Mekong exhibited statistically different otolith surface elemental signatures but similar core elemental signatures. This result suggests a population originating from a single natal origin but bypassing the waterfalls through a passable side channel where a major hydroelectric dam is planned. The potential effects of damming in the Mekong River are discussed.

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Spawning biology and migration of the mud crab, Scylla olivacea (Herbst), in the Andaman Sea were examined from November 2002 to March 2004 at Klong Ngoa Mangrove area, Ranong Province, Thailand. Mature females were dominant from July to November. The changes in monthly gonadosomatic index of females ranged from 1.9 (±3.3) to 8.2 (±5.8) and size at first maturity was 9.4 cm internal carapace width (ICW). Fecundity (F) correlated ICW according to F¼3.02 ·ICW 2.98 . A total of 1013 female crabs were double tagged with spaghetti and bottom tags. The recaptured rate was 36.7% and showed that females migrated from coastal area to the open sea during the spawning season. A closed season during the north-east monsoon season and a minimum legal ICW size of 10 cm are recommended for sustainable management of the fishery. K E Y W O R D S :

Changes in catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) were evaluated when all the sluice gates on the Pak Mun Dam, Mun River, Thailand, were opened between July 2001 and June 2002. CPUE ranged from 0.38 to 1.70 and 0.61 to 2.71 kg fisherman )1 night )1 , downstream and upstream of the dam, respectively. No statistical differences (P > 0.05) among months were observed in both areas. The monthly percentage index of relative importance (%IRI) of the fish species caught varied between months. K E Y W O R D S :catch-per-unit-effort, index of relative importance, Mun River, reservoir fisheries.