The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has provided 50 communities in Kratie and Stung Treng provinces with 100 motorboats from the World Bank to strengthen preservation and combat fisheries crimes.

Fifty motorboats were given to 25 fishing communities in Stung Treng province and 25 to 50 communities in Kratie province, said Eng Chea San, the ministry’s director-general of the Fisheries Administration during the handover ceremony in Kratie province on Thursday.

“The World Bank has supplied 100 motorboats to support Phase III of the Mekong Integrated Water Resources Management Project. This project is aimed at better managing fisheries resources in the northeast of Cambodia,” Chea San said.

He said the effective management of Cambodia’s fishing industry would boost economic growth, as well as provide jobs and food security.

Veng Sakhon, the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, outlined an action plan for police to follow, in collaboration with aid providers, relevant authorities and fishing communities, when tackling fisheries crimes.

Sakhon urged its responsible, transparent and effective implementation. “This aid has come in time to respond to challenges resulting from the recent flooding,” he said and hailed the World Bank for its support of Cambodia through various projects.

Sien Kin, the head of the Kratie Fisheries Administration, told The Post on Sunday that the 100 motorboats would play a key role patrolling rivers as fishing communities combated fisheries crimes.

“Fishing communities protect the rivers, and the 100 motorboats will help them crack down harder on fisheries crime,” Kin said.