At least 60 people, living in two provinces along the Tonle Sap Lake in Cambodia, were urged to stop illegal fishing immediately and avoid legal action.
Sok Touch, president of Royal Academy of Cambodia, warned the residents of Kampong Luong and Kampong Thom province to clear their illegal fishing nets immediately or face legal action.
Touch added that illegal fishing during the closed season is affecting fish fry and fish species that are hatched during the spawning season.
He also alleged that most of these people are getting support from some government officials.
“I request that the illegal fishing activities should be stopped in this closed fishing season. If the research team of the Royal Academy of Cambodia finds them doing illegal fishing for a second time, demand for arrest warrant will be made against the perpetrators for legal proceedings,” Touch said.
While supporting the Academy, Sam Tieng, head of the fishing community in Baray district, Kampong Thom province, said yesterday that he has observed residents using illegal equipment, day and night, without any action from fisheries officials and local authorities at Stung Chinit area along the Tonle Sap Lake.
He added that when his community groups monitor illegal fishing, local authorities, especially the police and fisheries administration officials block them.
He said that more than 11 community patrol groups are destroying illegal fishing nets amid interference from local authorities and officials in Stung Chinit area.