Damming Of The Mekong River Could Result In The Extinction Of Megafish

Is stimulating a countries economic national growth worth upsetting the Mekong River’s environmental life? That is the question that four Southeast Asian countries are dealing with when deciding whether or not building possibly up to twelve dams in the Mekong River is a good idea. The reason that these countries are trying to get underway with this 3.3 billion dollar project is because damming this river will generate electricity for the nearby regions. Not only will it generate electricity, according to environmentalists claim that this project will disrupt the aquatic environments as well as disrupt local communities who rely on this river for food and jobs.

The Mekong River is second in the world behind the Amazon River when it comes to the world’s largest rivers. This river is home to over 1,000 different fish species and it supports the world’s largest fresh water fisheries as well as provides food and income through many different types of jobs to over 65 million people. Peter McIntyre, a freshwater conservation expert from the University of Wisconsin-Madison had this to say; “the fish diversity is extremely high, the diversity of migratory species is extremely high, and human dependence upon these species for fisheries is extremely high, and if you put all that together, and putting a large dam in the Mekong is likely to cause major problems.” The Mekong River is so unique because of its very large fish diversity.

The damming of the Mekong River relates to what we are learning in our course for many reasons. One of those reasons would be disturbance. If any of the possible twelve dams actually are built than it will effect the aquatic environment by disrupting the freshwater in which the endangered giant Mekong catfish and other critical species subside. Another reason for why this event is connected to our course is because of dispersal limitation. With these dams going up along the river than most likely the habitats of the giant Mekong catfish will be unable to find a suitable freshwater habitat and become extinct.

I believe that if these four Southeast Asian countries decide to go on with the damming of the Mekong River than they will find themselves harming the environment of over 1,000 species and possibly endangering many as well. I do not think environmentalist will be supportive of this action because it’s an international dilemma not a national one and that is why I believe that their will not be damming of the Mekong River.

Colin O'Reilly

Than, Ker. "New Mekong Dam a Go, and a Blow to Endangered Megafishes?" Daily Nature and Science News and Headlines | National Geographic News. NAtional Geographic News, 25 Mar. 2011. Web. 04 Apr. 2011. .

Sokunthea, Chor. Cambodia Fisheries Personnel Release a Mekong Giant Catfish. The 5-foot (1.5-meter) Megafish Weighed Nearly 100 Pounds (50 Kilograms). Photograph.