FAO representative in Cambodia Rebekah Bell (left), Sébastien Copin, programme manager of the EU delegation to Cambodia (second from left), and FiA director-general Poum Sotha (kneeling), release fish in Kampong Cham province during National Fish Day celebrations on July 1. FAO
Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) has expressed its commitment to increasing efforts to conserve Cambodia’s fisheries by improving the enforcement and implementation of legal reforms, while acknowledging that illegal fishing, overfishing, habitat destruction and the impact of climate change present challenges.
A July 2 FAO Cambodia press release noted that the fisheries industry in Cambodia undoubtedly remains a cornerstone of the national economy, producing about 550,000 tonnes of fish and other aquatic creatures annually and contributing around 12 per cent of the Kingdom’s GDP.
“This industry is crucial for food security and people’s livelihoods, yet it faces significant sustainability challenges,” it said.
The release followed the July 1 celebrations of National Fish Day, held annually to inspire nationwide participation in the conservation and sustainable development of fisheries, aiming to increase fish stocks, ensure food security and support people’s livelihoods.
It explained that the overexploitation of natural resources often leads to ecological and sustainability issues, adding that the government has initiated several measures to protect fisheries and other marine resources. Almost 90 per cent of global marine fish stocks are now exploited or overfished, with wild capture fisheries struggling without sound regulatory frameworks and strong enforcement.
“FAO is dedicated to supporting CAPFISH-Capture, which is making significant changes to Cambodia's fisheries management by improving enforcement, implementing legislative reforms, and enhancing conservation efforts.
“By implementing innovative tools and encouraging sustainable practices, we are actively working towards creating a resilient and sustainable future for aquatic resources and communities in Cambodia”, FAO representative in Cambodia Rebekah Bell was quoted as saying in the press release.
The CAPFISH-Capture Programme was launched in 2019. It is a collaborative initiative by the EU, Cambodia’s Fisheries Administration (FiA), and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, which aims to promote sustainable and inclusive fisheries development.
The release explained that the FAO provides technical assistance to enhance fisheries conservation, management, and legal compliance, including implementing the National Plan of Action to Combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, in both inland and marine areas.
“The CAPFISH-Capture programme is actively tackling these challenges. It aims to safeguard Cambodia's marine and freshwater environments by promoting compliance, assisting with legislative reforms and strengthening national capacity.
“We are dedicated to securing a sustainable future for Cambodia's fisheries and the communities that rely on them,” Tihamer Czika, Chargé d’affairs of the EU in Cambodia, was quoted as saying in the press release.
The press release reiterated that CAPFISH-Capture remains committed to securing a sustainable future for Cambodia's fisheries and the communities that depend on them.
It added that by fostering collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement in governance and education, the project aims to pave the way for resilient coastal ecosystems and thriving fisheries, ensuring prosperity for generations to come.
“Acknowledging the invaluable support from the EU-funded CAPFISH-Capture program and the FAO for sustainable fisheries development and management, we have made significant progress.
“According to the IUU-Fishing Risk Index, which benchmarks and ranks countries based on their vulnerability to and response to IUU fishing, Cambodia has shown notable improvement,” it said.
“The global IUU-Fishing assessment results indicate that Cambodia was ranked 3rd out of 152 countries in 2019, 23rd in 2021, and 51st in 2023,” FiA director-general Poum Sotha was quoted as saying in the press release.
