A FRESHWATER DIAPTOMID COPEPOD HARVESTED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION IN CENTRAL LAOS

During fish surveys in Laos in 1997, a small fishery for an unnamed copepod of the genus Allodiaptomus (Calanoida: Diaptomidae: Diaptominae) was discovered along the Xe Lanong. The copepods are harvested in man-made triangular shelters built in the river, along the shores and stored salted in bamboo tubes . The resource is apparently not rare as it is reported to show up in the local markets. Apparently, this is the first record of humans harvesting freshwater copepods for food.