More than 200 residents from seven villages in Ratanakkiri province’s Taveng district have filed a complaint to the local Administrative Fisheries Department and two right groups over claims that rival anglers in the area are collecting fish in their protected lot by poisoning the catch.

Taveng community representative Traing Tham said the villagers thumbprinted the documents and submitted them to the authorities yesterday, asking for intervention. They also sent them to 3S Rivers Protection Network and Adhoc.

Tham said that since January, the other fishermen, who could not be reached, have been using “illegal tools and poisonous substances in the breeding season in our protected area”.

About 20 fishermen from Veun Sai district are accused of invading it.

Khuon Sorya, Taveng district deputy police chief, said that the offences have occurred but those responsible have so far evaded capture.