Vietnamese and Cambodian fishermen are still illegally fishing in each other’s territorial waters in Kep province, even though authorities have attempted to crack down on it, an official said yesterday.
Theng Borin, director of the provincial Department of Agriculture said at a press conference that recently, local authorities observed there is still illegal fishing in Kep province which is destroying natural resources such as coral reefs and clam habitats.
“In the past, Vietnamese fishermen came for subsistence fishing not using large-scale commercial boats with electric equipment, because the water in the border area is just two to four metres deep. It is not possible for a boat larger than twelve metres,” he said.
Borin said the provincial authorities cooperate with Marine Conservation Cambodia and the border police to prevent illegal fishing.
He said that in 2020, Vietnamese authorities arrested 25 Cambodian fishermen caught fishing illegally in the border area.
“Cambodian officials requested their release and the governor of Kep province went to repatriate them. He educated them not to continue illegal fishing before sending them home,” Borin said.
He said that when there is illegal fishing in Cambodia, authorities detain the Vietnamese fishermen.
“At the request of the Vietnamese authorities, we release them and send them back to Vietnam,” Borin said.
2021 Virtus Media Pte., Ltd. (Khmer Times)