 |
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
August 7, 2005, WFCC together with Mr. Prasert, the head of Khaolaem dam Fresh Water Protection and Subjugation Center, in subdivision of Fisheries Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, followed by some officers went to survey the work side of Biklee Marine Wildlie Checkpoint Construction Project at the bank of Biklee stream, Sangkhlaburi district. The objective of the construction project is to protect the last nutrient-rich resource of aquatic animals in Khaolaem reservoir. Because it covers a large area of 200,000 Rais and supports water around 2,000 million square meters, the existence of villagers around – in Sangklaburi and Thongphaphum district – depends on its wealthy. Thus, to retain the resource of aquatic animals in Khaolaem reservoir can assure that the population around will have enough food from their household fishery.
Mr. Prasert defined that to protect Biklee stream is the main task the Fresh Water Protection and Subjugation Center is now in concern, especially during breeding seasons. Previously, Biklee stream was a very abundant resource of aquatic livings, and there was plenty of fish shoals existed. Since fish is naturally spawn in running water, during breeding season, many species of female fish in Khaolaem reservoir swim against water current to lay their eggs on this area of Biklee stream, and the male will fertilize them. Then, the water current flow those tiny eggs with embryo along Biklee stream onto Khaolaem reservoir for their hatch and further development. On the average, a 2 kilogram mother fish bears around 50,000 – 200,000 per time. Nowadays, by the Office of Kanchanaburi District, this area states as protected area for aquatic lives dispersion or other preservative purposes.
During dry season, around 50 Rais of Biklee stream area turns to be a large field of grass and Mimosa pudica, so the villagers lead their cattle to feed here. The fecal of cattle will enrich the soil everywhere they walk through which will prepare a wealthy nourishing nursery with plenty tiny aquatic lives for the baby fish when rainy come and the Biklee stream return. Also, this area provides a good shelter, protecting them from fisherman threatening since their catching facilities will get damage because of Mimosa pudica’s prickles.
In fact, it is a large number of fishery operation crises all around Khaleam reservoir and Biklee stream nowadays, both legally and illegally. This threatens the critical minimization of fish population in Khaolaem dam reservoir, especially illegal catching in large quantity such as; fish shorting by electricity current, to apply explosive, underwater shoot by oxygen tank, netting, etc., which is aiming for commercial purpose, not only for household aquaculture purpose as in the past.
However, the worst problem is poaching in prohibited area during breeding season, Mr. Prasert reported discouragingly. Along the 4 months of breeding season, the officers have to rotate to spend their lives on boat, patrol and keep guarding the protected area strictly all the time. Sometimes, they went on board cutting off a large number of gill nets the poachers had set to be handover to the office of Thongphaphum district. Also this time, WFCC experienced this operation and noticed many abandoned pieces of gill net tightened to barren trees along the banks of Biklee stream. Before we reached the gateway during our 30 kilometers of survey journey, we found a gill net with a large mother fish trapped in. Her weight was around 4-5 kilograms with full of tiny eggs in her belly. We were all reset that she could not pass this trap to lay her eggs on the bank. Actually, if without the endeavor of these officers to protect the area, there may be only few mother fish could survive from these thousands of net the poachers had tightly set across the stream to reach their destination.
Not only subjugate work they took a great effort; also the social work is what they concern. To publicize and acknowledge reservoir-surrounded population to be aware on the important of fresh water resources is one of the most prior and important task are continuously operate, aiming the repetition may change their wrong attitude and draw them to the same understanding for further good cooperation on sufficient fishery and on sustainable conservation of fresh water resources in Khaoleam reservoir.
To encourage their strong faith toward their duty and conservative mind, WFCC decided to offer them Biklee Marine Wildlife Checkpoint Construction Project, as well as we did for the Marine Wildlife Checkpoint of Ongtang-Huaykue of Thungyai Naresuan, in order to facilitate them on reserving the aquatic lives resources of Khaoleam reservoir to sustain fresh water fish supplies for the villagers and population nearby. The estimate budget for the construction project is around baht 200,000, will begin the architectural design, cooperation, and scheduled to finish by the end of this year.
Surin / reported
|
||||
Thai Version Click Here
|
|||||
|
About WFCC Activities Wildlife Sanctuary Bird Photo Gallery Support Projects Main Page
|
|||||
