Dams on the Mekong River: Lost fish protein and the implications for land and water resources

► We model land and water requirements to replace lost fish protein from proposed dam construction on the Mekong River. ► Estimation for additional water needs for domestic protein production from livestock range from 4% to 17%. ► Estimation for additional pasture land for domestic livestock ranges from 4863 to 24,188 km2 (13-63% increase). ► We show considerably higher land and water averages particularly for Cambodia and Laos. ► Consideration is given to significant economic, social and environmental impacts of this protein loss.