Participatory data collecting and data sharing mechanism for resources management in Huay Luang reservoir, Udonthani, Thailand.

<p>Fishery resources management in Huay Luang reservoir is one program affiliated by Department of Fisheries and MRRF component since 2001. Continuing consultation with local stakeholders identified that they have lacked adequate information of Huay Luang for their management and planning. Even some information has been regularly collected by government organizations, but there were no appropriate data sharing mechanisms.</p> <p>The workshops among all local stakeholders from ten communities, four primary schools, three Tambon Administration Organizations (TAO), Provincial Fisheries Office, Udonthani Inland Freshwater Research and Development Center (IFRDC), Provincial Natural Resources and Environment Office, Tourism Office and Irrigation Project Office were held in January and September 2005 to identify the data and information needed by all local stakeholders and to develop a sustainable way of data collection methodology and sharing system for resources management and planning of Huay Luang Reservoir.</p> <p>An information needed by all local users were identified as initial priorities in four main issues, namely, water level and management strategies of Department of Irrigation; water quality in reservoir and sources of water pollution; and fish production from reservoir; annual development plan which related to Huay Luang Reservoir of all government organizations and non-government organizations.</p> <p>The Data collection methodology agreed among all users was to conduct a so called “folk research” on water quality monitoring by monthly basis and collection fish catch by fisherman in all target communities by local researchers represents from each community within technical supervision by government agencies. Data sharing mechanisms was developed during the workshop and based on current capacities and lesson learned of government agencies and integrated with existing sharing system of TAOs and communities and schools under their affiliated area. The activities at Huay Luang were promoted in the context of a DfID-funded project on “Data Collection and Information Sharing for Fisheries Co-management” which is jointly implemented by a number of fisheries development organizations under the leadership of MRAG Ltd, England. A draft “Field Guide on Data Collection and Sharing”, which is a product from the DfID-project, was useful in developing the methodology used at Huay Luang. The promising data 54 sharing mechanism will be continue to be tested through the Participatory ActionResearch process (PAR) for consensus learning process among all local stakeholders.</p>