Masato Kanda (centre), Asia Development Bank (ADB) president, and agriculture minister Dith Tina visit the Phum Thmey fishing community, in Kep province. Phum Thmey fishing community
The members of Kep province’s Phum Thmey fishing community have confirmed that marine fishery resources have doubled, significantly improving their livelihoods, thanks to support from the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Sustainable Marine Fisheries and Coastal Areas Project.
On March 19, Masato Kanda, the newly-elected ADB president, led a delegation from the bank on a tour of the fishing community. They were warmly welcomed by Dith Tina, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
Nuh Yep, acting head of the community, explained that since receiving the support of the ADB project, fisheries resources in the area have flourished, leading to better living conditions for community members.
“The Sustainable Marine Fisheries and Coastal Areas Project has provided support to the community in several ways: first, by deploying artificial reefs to serve as fish habitats; second, by supporting aquaculture initiatives to create breeding grounds for species like blood cockles, horseshoe crabs, and others,” he noted.
“For example, we’ve introduced external spawning practices within frames to allow hatching in the community’s conservation area,” he added.
Nit Laiman, a fisherman from the community, also expressed his satisfaction with the increase in resources. He compared the situation to before the ADB project, noting that fishing within the community’s area previously yielded little, forcing him to travel far for catches.
“Back then, there were hardly any fish in the community’s waters. I couldn’t catch anything and had to go far — sometimes as far as Koh Tonsay — using about 4 or 5 litres of fuel. I’d fish from morning to noon and only get 5 or 6 kilogrammes. Now, we fish near our boundaries, row a boat out, and in just half an hour, we can catch 7 or 8 kilogrammes,” he said.
Laiman added that he now earns between 70,000 and 80,000 riel ($17.50-$20) per day. Moreover, he no longer needs to travel far to sell his catch, as buyers are readily available within the community.
Kanda noted that during his visit, he observed how the fishing families ply their trade in an environmentally friendly manner. He also noted improvements to docking areas for fishing boats, which facilitate the transfer of catches while protecting coastal ecosystems and boosting the fishermen’s daily income.
“What stood out to me was how this project uplifts entire families by ensuring safer conditions and emphasising community ownership,” he said.
“It’s an example of ADB’s commitment in Cambodia to bring about long-term change by working closely with local communities and the government as partners. By protecting marine resources, we help communities secure stable incomes today while leaving a healthy environment for future generations,” he added.
The Sustainable Marine Fisheries and Coastal Areas Project aims to enhance climate resilience, diversify income sources and restore marine and coastal fish stocks.
Launched in March 2023 and set to run until February 2030, the project covers all four of the Kingdom’s coastal provinces: Kep, Kampot, Koh Kong and Preah Sihanouk.
With a total funding package of $104 million, the project is financed through a $41 million loan from the ADB, $22 million in ADB grants, $10 million in co-financing from the ASEAN Infrastructure Fund, approximately $20 million from the French Agency for Development (AFD) and $11 million from the Cambodian government.
