Fishermen harvest their catch during the 2023 season. Hong Menea
Exports of natural fishery products totalled 15 tonnes in the first two months of 2024, 0.19 per cent of the targeted 8,000 tonnes, as reported by the Fisheries Administration (FiA).
FiA director-general Poum Sotha stated on March 11 that exports had seen a slight decline earlier this year, attributable to the scarcity of mature fish suitable for export and a diminishing demand in overseas markets.
“These 15 tonnes of exported products consist solely of natural fisheries, not aquaculture products. Although our natural fish production hasn’t decreased, the abundance of smaller fish means that larger, export-quality fish are currently scarce. We didn’t export anything in January, but [we did] in February,” he explained.
Sotha noted that international shipments from aquaculture ventures have not yet been reported but were likely to be available next month.
Heng Meng Ty, assistant director of Kim Chou Co Ltd, which specialises in import, export and global transportation, stated that since the initiation of natural eels and freshwater shrimp exports in September 2023, the company has successfully exported eight containers.
He noted that, of these exports, natural freshwater shrimp constituted the largest quantity, exceeding five tonnes.
Meng Ty said the firm is actively seeking approval from the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) for the export of certain fishery products to China, a process facilitated by the support of the FiA, which operates under the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
“Our export of approximately eight tonnes is proceeding smoothly, and we are submitting requests to China’s customs for the export of additional freshwater products, including Asian redtail catfish (Hemibagrus wyckioides), bronze featherback (Notopterus notopterus), and boeseman croaker (Boesemania microlepis),” he stated.
According to the FiA, freshwater fishing at the start of the year yielded 20,000 tonnes, including over 18,000 from family fishing within designated areas and more than 500 from family field fishing.
Sea fishing accounted for over 16,000 tonnes, while aquaculture contributed in excess of 26,000.
