Nearly 200 crimes related to fishing were reported by the Kampong Chhnang fisheries administration last month, according to administrator Som Phearun, whose remarks were published on the National Police website.
Between June 29 and July 6, a total of 6,000 meters of fishing net and 200 traps of various design were discovered and confiscated in the province, Mr. Phearun said, adding that the legal fishing season was closed for the whole period.
Nearly a month during the no-fishing season in 2016, we combated all kinds of fishery crimes day and night in our region. We cooperated with provincial, district and commune officials, Mr. Phearun said.
We collected 2,000 meters of fishing net in 67 places, 3,000 meters of fishing net with a small weave in 114 places, 385 meters of fishing net across canals in 16 places and 773 meters of net from 100 net fishing traps, he added.
The fisheries administration partnered with provincial police to conduct patrols in Kampong Chhnang’s waterways during the month-long crackdown. Each patrol consisted of anywhere from 12 to 30 provincial police officers as well as four to six small motorboats, Mr. Phearun said. He added, however, that the small staff, spare resources and low water-levels all challenged the efficiency of the operation.
The operation this year faced some concerns such as geographic situations. The water is not deep, so it is difficult to travel, he said, adding that efforts to curb illegal fishing, such as educating fishermen on the legal fishing season, were ongoing.
According to the United Nation’s Food Agriculture Organization (FAO), there are 4,520 square kilometers of permanent freshwater in Cambodia, whose fisheries sector employs about 420,000 people directly. More than two million people are thought to derive some type of livelihood or benefits from involvement in the sector, the FAO has found.
According to official fishery administration figures, about 700,000 tons of fish were harvested nationwide in 2014, of which about 400,000 tons were exported.
2016 Khmer Times