This report is intended as a resource document for readers who wish to know more about the status of rural aquaculture development and to a lesser extent aquatic resource management issues in Lao PDR. This report is a final output by the Aquaculture Development Advisor to the “Provincial Aquaculture Development Project, LAO/97/007”. Whilst there are frequent references to the work of this project, this document does not aim to provide a comprehensive review of the project activities and impacts. More complete information on various project related activities can be found in the extensive LAO/97/007 field documentation listed in Annex I. These documents are recorded on CD-Rom media and copies of file should be available through FAO Regional Office Bangkok, FAO Library Rome or FAO Representation in Vientiane. Additional copies are also lodged with the Lao Living Aquatic Resources Research Centre and Livestock and Fisheries Development Division.