The Fisheries Administration (FiA) release 40,000 fish of five different species at Boeung Bangkong village in Siem Reap province on August 3. Agriculture ministry
Participants of next year's traditional fishing festival in Siem Reap province are expecting bigger catches after 40,000 fish of five different species were released and fishing was banned at Boeung Bangkong village in Prasat Bakong district’s Ampil commune.
Following the circulation of the time-honoured fishing celebration at the village, people from other areas became interested and joined the event. To ensure more fish for the festival in coming years, the Fisheries Administration (FiA) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries stocked the lake on August 3.
“The people preserve the lake together and celebrate the event every year in the traditional way. After news of the [festivities] was spread, others joined to see it. This is a local tradition that has been performed every year [on February 12] for a long time,” said Tea Kimsoth, director of the Siem Reap provincial agriculture department on August 6.
According to the Ministry of Information, the lake measures 150 metres wide by 300 metres long. It said villagers regularly refrain from catching fish starting in June to save stocks for the Neak Ta celebration, when the “fish catch” is held.
The timing of the event also depends on the conditions at the lake; if the water level is still high, the ceremony is postponed until after it is sufficiently low to fish using traditional gear, the ministry added.
It also noted that a total of 60,000 fish were released by the agriculture ministry in Takeo province on July 25, to conserve populations there.
Kimsoth said that after the ceremony at Boeung Bangkong village, a total of 295 illegal fishing implements were burned on site, adding that the equipment had been confiscated from fishermen or handed over by some voluntarily this year.
“If they surrender it to us, we will not take legal action. But if they [refuse] and continue using it, we will follow the law.
“The illegal gear is not just confiscated. If violators are arrested, their cases are sent to court. Some people see the seizures and volunteer to hand over [the] equipment,” he said.
Additionally, Kimsoth mentioned that fisheries officials are continuing to educate, advise and make contracts with traders to stop buying, selling, producing, storing and transporting illegal fishing tools.
