With Covid-19 rearing its head along the Mekong River, desperate fishermen in Cambodia have been resorting to illegal methods during the closed season to feed their families.
Om Savath, an executive director of Fisheries Action Coalition Team (FACT) – a non-governmental organisation (NGO) working on fisheries, environmental issues, and local fishing communities – told Khmer Times that fishing offences have been more frequent than usual this year.
However, Savath said that some protected areas supported by FACT have good protection measures in place to minimise these fishing offences.
“We promote the closed and open fishing season every year, but some still abuse this because they rely on fishing to support their family,” he said, adding that some offenders are being sent to court after ignoring multiple cautions.
This year, we have seen more fishermen violating the seasonal fishing ban as they are struggling to make a living during the pandemic, thus some are using illegal equipment and fishing in protected areas to try and make ends meet, Savath said.
He said FACT has worked very hard to help fishermen increase their income through ecotourism, but sadly the virus outbreak has forced them to do illegal fishing as tourism is minimal.
Boeng Be Pram Mouy community chief Eang Naim told Khmer Times that while fishing offences happen every year, this year the lake is also dry which has made the fish resources almost depleted.
“We cannot control the situation as we don’t have enough resources to stop the illegal fishing and we are only able to patrol once or twice a month,” Naim said.
Finance Manager and member of Phat Sanday ecotourism community So Phork told Khmer Times that people in his community are having a very hard time during the pandemic and are struggling to support their familes.
Therefore, Phork said people are forced to fish during the closed season and in protected areas.
“People are allowed to fish in an area of 100 to 200 metres, however, some violate this to fish over 500 metres, which is illegal,” he said.
He added that fishermen have said 100 to 200 metres is not enough for them to catch many fish, thus they have no choice but to expand the area in which they fish.
However, Phork said the community has financial support from FACT to conduct patrols in the protected areas to prevent illegal fishing and to keep the breeding fish safe.
Last week in Stung Treng province, many fishing boats were stopped by authorities and more than 200 people were cautioned for violating the ban.
Stung Treng provincial Fisheries Administration deputy director Vong Savoeun said all fishermen have been informed not to use illegal fishing gear as well as to protect and conserve breeding fish during the natural spawning time.
“I urge all fishermen to immediately stop using illegal gear such as electric shock equipment, poisons and explosives that lead to the loss and extinction of fish resources as well as breeding fish,” said Savoeun.
2021 Virtus Media Pte., Ltd. (Khmer Times)