Aquaculture Increasingly, these fish are being breed artificially for
aquaculture. This is a common practice in Laos and Thailand. In order to capture wild fish, aquaculture sites set up large-mesh
gill netting at spawning sites. Not only does this capture many wild Jullien's golden carp, but it also stops them from spawning, further diminishing their numbers. As of 2012, this number has been greatly surpassed and there are now approximately 2.5 million metric tons of fish, including the Jullien's golden carp, being harvested per year. The value of this harvest is estimated at US$3.6 to 6.5 billion.
Hydropower development In 1994, the
Mekong River Commission (MRC) identified 12 sites for dams in the major rivers of Laos, Thailand, and Cambodia. This has since expanded to include Myanmar. Since the
Irrawaddy River Basin is one of the last areas of refuge for the Jullien's golden carp, the recent creation of the Myitsone Dam in Myanmar is further threatening its existence. However, as of 2011, the usage of this dam is suspended due to international, regional, and national conservation efforts. The
Xayaburi Dam in Lao PDR is another hydropower threat. Since the Jullien's golden carp has a relatively large population in the Mekong River, the consequences of this
dam could be disastrous. The Mekong River Commission estimates that this dam could disastrously impact the movements of
migratory fish and reduce the amount of fish caught by 270,000 to 600,000 metric tons. What makes these numbers problematic is the fact that they would mainly affect the local people. What happens with dams is that migratory fish are unable to move upstream and thus are caught in
artificial lakes created by the dams. This would create a new fish supply for the
state, while decreasing the fish supply for the local people. By threatening the existence of fish such as the Jullien's golden carp, these dams are also threatening the existence of fisheries in the long-term. Thus, although in the short-term these dams will provide much
economic stimulus, Lao PDR is estimated to obtain $2.5 billion a year in revenue. Although these dams and the
hydropower they create aid in placating the
energy demand in Southeast Asia, this energy demand is destroying the regions traditionally sustainable, local industries. The fishing and agriculture industries in the Mekong River Basin stand to lose $500 million a year if the Myitsone and The Xayaburi Dams continue operating or if any new dams are built. This is according to the study being done by the
Mekong River Commission (MRC). The creation of dams and their negative effect on fish is not a new concept. Many opponents of these dams are citing the more than 3,000 dams that have been built along the
Zhujiang River during the last 40 years as relating to the Myitsone and Xayaburi Dams. In the Zhujiang River, the numbers of many migratory fish, such as many major carp species, have fallen. This shows what could happen to migratory fish such as the Jullien's golden carp. Another fact that relates the Jullien's carp to the carp species affected by dams in the Zhujiang River is the fact that they are both carps. Thus, the similarities concerning the carp species in the Zhujiang River and the Jullien's golden carp is telling of what could happen to the Jullien's carp if the Myitsoone and Xayaburi Dams continue.
Pollution through deforestation Through the
drainage of
peat swamp forests, the
acidity of river systems such as the Mekong River Basin has dramatically increased. Thus, the River Valleys become drainage basins and are known as "blackwater streams." This
pollution through
deforestation also affects the local people. In Le Grand Lac of Cambodia, which is connected to the Mekong River Basin by the
Tonlé Sap River, deforestation has caused pollution, which in turn has created a reduction of food,
erosion, and
siltation. Although there is legislation in many countries of Southeast Asia, such as Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia, this
legislation is weakly enforced. Furthermore, after deforestation occurs, the land that used to be forests is filled in with
cash crops. These cash crops require much energy in order to be produced and harvested, and the run-off from this energy goes into
rivers and
river basins. This affects the runoff patterns of these areas, hurting the lifecycles of freshwater fish, as well as local fishing industries. Since the lifecycle of the Jullien's golden carp is dependent upon seasonal shifts in river/lake water (such as shifts in currents), the pollution of rivers and lakes is Southeast Asia has diminished their numbers.
Pollution through agriculture production Although anti-pollution legislation is present both collectively in Southeast Asia and nationally in Southeast Asian countries, it is rarely enforced. This is due to the mentality to
economic expansion through
modernization present in Southeast Asian states. Much of this expansion is not done by the locals, but by the governments of Southeast Asian countries. Industries in Southeast Asian have expanded without proper
water treatment facilities, causing its rivers to be
oxygen-poor for much of the year. Although the agriculture techniques in Southeast Asia are becoming more modern, this increase is cash crops is coming at the expense of the regions other large
industry: fish. This means that this region will lack industry diversification. ==Conservation==