Battambang provincial Fisheries Administration apprehended perpetrators of 38 fishery crimes and confiscated fishing nets spanning a total of 18,560m in the first quarter of this year, according to a new report.

Released on April 13, the report shows fisheries crimes amounting to 38 cases, 33 of which involved the destruction of evidence. Those which were recovered included fishing nets totalling 18,260m, 24 sets of fishing nets spanning 300m, 113 fishing tools, 7,800 wooden and bamboo poles, two inverters, one battery and two pairs of metal magnets.

Authorities also seized 1,190kg of mixed and freshwater fish and released them into the Tonle Sap Lake.

Provincial Fisheries Administration director Chuong Sophea said that in addition to cracking down on fisheries crimes, his team had cooperated with local authorities and partner organisations to disseminate the government’s measures to those who live on floating houses in the flooded forest area. This was to engender mutual understanding and increase locals’ participation in efforts to prevent fisheries and logging crimes, as well as the clearing and burning of flooded forest land, he said.

“The crackdown on fisheries crime and deforestation in the Tonle Sap Lake area requires the participation of all stakeholders, especially the involvement of local authorities and communities. Otherwise, this work will not be successful,” he said.

The provincial Fisheries Administration manages a total of 206,953ha of flooded forest land.