Abstract
Fish are an important commodity to communities in the Lower Mekong Basin (LMB), representing the most important protein source for millions of people in the region. Sustainable fisheries do not only require sustainable fish catches but also improve benefits and return to fishing communities through the fisheries value chain. Fish trade was surveyed in 12 provinces in the LMB to quantify the diversity, abundance and prices of fish species between landing sites and urban markets to understand mark‐up values through the value chain as an entry point to designing a strategic intervention to improve financial returns to fishers. Across the LMB, mark‐up in prices paid to fishers at landing sites and those reportedly charged to consumers in urban markets ranged from 36% to 110% on average, and reached as high as 611% for certain species. Cambodia and Vietnam exhibited similar average mark‐up values at 104% and 112% respectively (range 0% to 611%), while Lao PDR and Thailand both showed lower mark‐up prices at 36% (range 0%–175%). This highlights the potential for higher economic returns to fishing communities. Of 136 species in 11 major ecological guilds recorded from urban markets, potamodromous migratory main channel refuge seeker species (Guild 4) and potamodromous short‐distance migratory main channel spawner species (Guild 3) were the most diverse guilds that contributed 47% of species and were present in markets in all countries. Guild 3 also dominated the weight sold and individual species value, reflecting their high market demand in all countries. These findings show the added value generated in small‐scale inland fisheries systems in the LMB and justify further investment and research on how to improve financial returns to fishers, without necessarily increasing fish prices, which is essential to increase motivation for conservation of fish stocks and their habitats.