Some 5,000 metres of illegal fishing nets and bamboo traps were destroyed when a group of fishery administration authorities and fishing communities conducted a crackdown on Thursday, a fishery officer said.

Pursat province fishery administration chief Phum Nimol told The Post on Thursday that at least 1,100 metres of illegal bamboo fishing traps and 1,620 wooden posts used to prepare the traps were cut down after he and his officers inspected sites at Boueng Thueng, Boueng Kamporng and Boueng Talok lakes located in Bakan district.

Separately, in Kampong Cham province, 1,000 metres of illegal fishing nets and 300 wooden posts were destroyed by Srey Santhor district authorities.

More than 40kg of fingerlings were also released into a natural lake, said Khoun Chan Sareth, Srey Santhor district governor.