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Relationship between Fisheries
and Development in Viet Nam
Dr Le Xuan Canh
Deputy Director Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources
Viet Nam
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Characteristics of fish species composition in inland waters.
According to newest statistic, fish species composition of Viet Nam inland
waters (fresh water and brackish water) includes 544 species and subspecies,
belonging to 228 genera, 57 families and 18 orders. But until now, the statistic
of fish species composition in interior waters has not been sufficient due to
some geographic difficulties (in mountain, remote areas). Among 544 inland
waters fish species in Viet Nam, 228 species (41.3%) which belong to 60 genera,
31 families (54.4%) and 12 orders (66.7%) originate from sea-water and
brackish-water fish species, are emigrating to fresh waters and becoming
cultural or caught objects. The important orders are shown in the Table 1.
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Table 1. Important Orders of Fish |
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Herring (Clupeiformes): |
2 families |
11 genera |
22 species |
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Perch (Perciformes): |
11 families |
19 genera |
22 species |
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Flatfish (Plunonestiformes): |
4 families |
5 genera |
22 species |
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Catfish (Siluriformes): |
2 families |
4 genera |
17 species |
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Globe-fish (Tetrodontiformes): |
2 families |
7 genera |
13 species |
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Gaw-hook (Beloniformes): |
2 families |
4 genera |
7 species |
The high rate of sea-water and brackish-water fish species in interior fish
species composition shows the migrate ability of sea origin organisms to inland
fresh water in tropical region.
In 18 orders, 57 families, carp order (4 families) make up 276 species
(50.7%) - 50% of inland fish species quantity. The other orders make up less
than 20%. There are 29 families (33%) with only 1 genus, 1 species. Many among
these families originate from sea-water, brackish-water fish, such as mackerel (Scombemorus
chinensis), hirame (Tephrinectes sinensis), bat
fish (Osphronemus goramy), springer (Mugil cephalus),
Asian catfish (Platytropius siamensis), bango (Elops saurus),
milkfish (Chanos chanos).
According to initial investigation, there are approximately 60 endemic fish
species in Viet Nam. Because of the lack of research documents, the taxonomy
should be reconsidered. Most of endemic species distribute in river, stream,
mountain waters.
The above characteristics of fish species composition show that fish fauna in
Viet Nam interior waters has tropical, highly diversity characteristics
(approximately 550 species on an area of more than 330,000 km2), rich sea-water
and brackish-water originated fish composition, being suitable to Viet Nam
geographic location (near seas) but not rich in endemic species.
There are 5 important orders as follows: - Carp order (Cypriniformes)
includes 4 families, 100 genera, 276 species and subspecies (50.7%).
- Catfish order (Siluriformes) includes 10 families, 31 genera, 88 species and
subspecies (16.2%), especially (Bagridae), Asian catfish (Pangasiidae) and
catfish family (Siluridae).
- Perch order (Perciformes) includes 17 families, 44 genera, 70 species and
subspecies (12.9%), especially hind (Serranidae), gourami (Belontidae), palmer
(Centropomidae), black goby (Eleotridae) and eelgoby (Gobiidae).
- Herring order (Clupeiformes) includes 2 families, 11 genera, 22 species and
subspecies (4.04%), especially herring family (Clupeidae).
- Flatfish order (Pleuronectiformes) includes 4 families, 5 genera, 22 species
and subspecies (4.04%), especially flatfish family (Saleidae) and sand flounder
(Cynoglossidae).
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