Officers from the Fisheries Administration’s (FiA) Stung Treng provincial cantonment conducted a patrol on October 4. STUNG TRENG FIA
Officials from the Fisheries Administration’s (FiA) Stung Treng provincial cantonment interceded in just over 100 cases of fishing offences as part of its efforts to protect species during the closed fishing season from May to September.
More than 30,000m of fishing nets were seized and over 60 fishermen were issued warnings and made to sign contracts agreeing not to breach fishing regulations again. Three suspects were sent to court to face legal action.
Srey Sam Vichet, head of provincial cantonment, said the past five months of the closed season had seen his officials crack down in 101 instances.
He added that the successful protection of the Kingdom’s fisheries could not have been achieved without the cooperation of the authorities, the armed forces, park rangers, river guards and the fishery communities.
“We conduct regular operations, patrolling the river every month with community members,” he added.
According to an FiA report, four cases resulted in court action, with three suspects ordered to be detained in custody.
In addition, officials confiscated four motor boats; four large fishing nets; three electric shock devices and one battery; 36,940m of floating nets; and 6,898 fishing lines with many hooks attached, along with 500m of mesh fyke fish traps, from the Mekong River dolphin management and protection area.
The team reprimanded 211 fishermen caught with floating nets during the closed season. The warnings included written contracts for 56 fishermen and eight traders who bought fish that was caught illegally.
They have also conducted a wide-ranging public awareness campaign, which employed radio, loudspeakers, leaflets, social media and face-to-face meetings with several households.
Nhuon Chanty, a Mekong specialist with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Cambodia, praised the FiA’s efforts, as well as those of community members, to work together to crack down on crime and contribute to the protection of fisheries resources.
He added that WCS is supporting the conservation of fishery resources in Stung Treng and Kratie provinces, with a focus on the conservation of Cantor’s giant softshell turtle (Pelochelys cantorii), known locally as frog head turtles.
Chanty explained that WCS has established several additional initiatives, including community outreach education campaigns, a curriculum on rare species trafficking in the markets, and community livelihood improvement programmes.
