The human impact and sustainability of fishing/farming in the Mekong Delta

The Mekong Delta is located in southwestern Vietnam. The river itself starts in the Himalayas,
flows through China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and then flows into Vietnam. In this essay, I
will talk about some of the main things related to the Mekong Delta.

Humans have done many activities that threaten the Mekong Delta. And even that those
activities are creating short-term impacts far beyond those of climate change. First, the construction of
hydropower dams upstream alters the natural flow of rivers, which results in loss of sediment and leaves
deltas vulnerable to flooding, salinity intrusion and erosion (Mekong Delta provinces discuss, p.3). Next
is sand mining, it causes the riverbank collapse, delta sinking, and biodiversity loss, and more than that,
riverbeds in the Mekong Delta are sinking by 200-300 mm per year (Gravest threat to Mekong, p.4).
There are also other causes such as the contamination by production and wastewater (Mekong Delta
provinces discuss, p.3). And finally, the groundwater extraction, it is the major cause of land subsidence
in the Mekong Delta (Gravest threat to Mekong, p.4). Next is about the ecological value of the Mekong
Delta and how human activity can affect its biodiversity. This is one of the largest rivers in the world, and
it also has great biodiversity. Mekong Delta includes a wide range of ecosystems, such as mangrove
forests, rivers and streams, sand dunes, among others (Mekong Delta provinces discuss, p.2). The
Mekong Delta has great value, sometimes it called the "rice bowl of Vietnam" (Communications
Coordinator, p.1). It provides residents with essential benefits, serving as a source of food and
livelihood. For local economies, these ecosystems provide much of the fishing, fruit, and silt for
agriculture. First, one of the biggest benefits, which is rice cultivation. The local farmers grow rice in the
Mekong Delta, take advantage of the annual monsoon floods to fill their fields, and then sell the
harvested crops to trusted markets (Communications Coordinator, p.1). Next is aquaculture, it is also
very important. Every year, there will be a time called "floating season", which is the time when the
Mekong River rises and flows to the South, along with a lot of rich alluvium and large number of fish and
shrimp (Mekong Delta locals, p.1). Because of that, the livelihood of the people here is stable, and good.
Unfortunately, the climate change of recent years has adversely affected this. It causes the water level
to rise more slowly and recede faster, making the amount of shrimp, fish, alluvium significantly reduced,
or even depleted (Mekong Delta locals, p.2). So now instead of depending on aquatic resources from the
floating season, the residents raised shrimp and fish, to ensure a stable supply and year-round
production. (Mekong Delta locals, p.3). However, these activities can reduce biodiversity. “The impact of
aquaculture in the Mekong Delta is a really complicated issue because it impacts people, local traditions,
the environment, and the economy all at once,” said Professor Donna LeFebvre of UNC Chapel Hill
(Communications Coordinator, p.3). To raise shrimp, farmers have to convert rice land to shrimp ponds,
they have to clear mangrove forests and pump fresh water from aquifers into the ponds, which slowly
increases the amount of salt water in the Mekong River (Communications Coordinator, p.3). But too
much salt can be harmful to aquatic organisms, as high salinity can trigger the release of toxic metals
such as carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus (For healthier lakes, rivers, p.5). The fish farms are another
challenge because the farmers use hormones and fertilizers to raise fish that grow faster than normal, so
it pollutes the water, as well as lessen product quality (Communications Coordinator, p.5). Therefore, we
need strategies to protect the Mekong Delta. First, restore mangrove barriers and redesign existing
aquaculture practices, save freshwater by restoring aquifers and building reservoirs (Mongabay). The
next step is to promote sustainable fishing to balance the current and future needs of people with the
needs of the wildlife that share this river. (Conserving the Mighty Mekong River, p.10). In this way, it
affects the economic because helps local people earn a better living by managing their fishery resources
sustainably and the people who depend on fishing can maintain their livelihood. It also protects
biodiversity because it helps to prevent the fish species here from extinct. Next is dam construction, it
affects the social. Although it can help to provide water for society to use, protect from floods in river,
hydroelectric power, irrigation water to grow food. The construct of dams on the Mekong mainstream
will affect all countries that have the river, including Vietnam. It prevents fish from moving to spawning
grounds- threatens the fishing industry, a very important food source. Changes in water and sediment
flow are also long-term threats to the people and biodiversity of the Mekong Delta (Conserving the
Mighty Mekong River, p.8).

In conclusion, the Mekong Delta has a lot of benefits for human and other organisms. But now it
is threatened by human activities, as well as the climate change. This makes the Mekong become one of
the world's most polluted rivers. So, we have strategies to deal with this, however those also has an
affect on the economy and social. I hope Vietnam, and as well as the other countries will have more
effective strategies to protect this river.

Citation:

Lockwood, Deirdre. “For healthier lakes, rivers, and drinking water, hold the salt”. C&EN, 4 February,
2019, https://cen.acs.org/environment/water/healthier-lakes-rivers-drinking-water/97/i6. Accessed 4
January, 2022.

“Mekong Delta provinces discuss the importance of maintaining ecosystem services in the 5th Mekong
Delta Nature and Culture Conservation Forum, Vietnam”. WWF, 12 April, 2013,
https://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/?208256/Mekong-Delta-provinces-discuss-the-importance-of-
maintaining-ecosystem-services-in-the-5th-Mekong-Delta-Nature-and-Culture-Conservation-Forum-
Vietnam. Accessed 3 January, 2022.

"Mekong Delta locals turn to fish farming as natural fish populations dwindle". Tuoi Tre News, 6
November, 2021, https://tuoitrenews.vn/news/features/20211106/mekong-delta-locals-turn-to-fish-
farming-as-natural-fish-populations-dwindle/63979.html. Accessed 4 January, 2022.

Communications Coordinator. "Exploring the Economic and Environmental Impact of Aquaculture on the
Mekong River". Semester At Sea, 22 Febuary, 2019,
https://www.semesteratsea.org/2019/02/22/exploring-the-economic-and-environmental-impact-of-
aquaculture-on-the-mekong-river/. Accessed 4 January, 2022.

“Gravest threat to Mekong delta today is sediment starvation not rising seas”. WWF, 10 December
2019,https://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/?357023/Gravest-threat-to-Mekong-delta-today-is-sediment-
starvation-not-rising-seas. Accessed 4 January, 2022.

Brown David. “A plan to save the Mekong Delta”. Mongabay, 18 October, 2016,
https://news.mongabay.com/2016/10/a-plan-to-save-the-mekong-delta. Accessed 4 January, 2022.

“Conserving the Mighty Mekong River”. WWF, 12 April 2011, https://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/?