The Phnom Penh Post
28 October 2015
Exports of fresh fish and fish products fell significantly during the first nine months of the year, raising concerns about businesses and families operating in the Kingdom’s fisheries sector.
Fresh and frozen fish export shipments fell 21 per cent during the first nine months of the year to 7,100 tonnes, down from 9,000 tonnes during the same period in 2014, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said in its latest data release.
Processed fish products also declined, falling to 3,700 tonnes in the first nine months of the year, compared to 5,000 tonnes during the same period in 2014.
Minh Bunly, program coordinator at the Fishery Action Coalition Team (FACT), said this year’s decrease in water level – the result of below-average rainfall and hydropower dam construction – reduced the productivity of freshwater fisheries and would have a palpable impact on the economic conditions of local fishing communities.
“It impacts the fisherman’s living situation as well as society, because their income depends on the fishery and they will not able to afford to pay taxes, which reflects in the national budget,” he said.
Another issue impacting the catch size, he said, was illegal fishing, where fishermen were using small nets and as a result catching baby fish and not letting them grow long enough to reproduce.