The Phnom Penh Post
11 August 2015
Cambodia’s river guards have reported confiscating more than 35,000 metres of gill nets, 21 boats and an assortment of homemade grenades during patrols in Mekong Irrawaddy Dolphin Sanctuary in Kratie and Stung Treng provinces between May and July. However, just three offenders accused of illegal fishing were sent to court during that period.
The haul, which also included more than 1,100 metres of illegal hooked lines and over 650 fishing hooks, appears to represent a considerable increase on 2014, when a total 62,100 metres of fishing nets were confiscated during the entire year.
According to WWF-Cambodia communications manager Un Chakrey, the equipment is having a devastating effect on fish populations and endangered species inhabiting Cambodia’s rivers. All of the equipment is burned after being seized. “The grenades are made from TNT and can each kill up to 200 kilograms of fish,” he said. “Tiny fish are killed, too, and it also affects the Irrawaddy dolphins.”
Five endangered Irrawaddy dolphins have been found dead in Cambodia’s waterways so far this year. Previous estimates have placed the population at as few as 85 dolphins.