Cambodia Intensifies Crackdown on Illegal Fishing to Protect Fishery Resources

In Cambodia, with the onset of the rainy season, illegal fishing activities are rampant, prompting fisheries authorities to intensify their crackdown. Specifically, in the Kang Meas district of Kampong Cham province, on July 28, 2026, fisheries authorities, in cooperation with local authorities, conducted a concentrated operation to crack down on illegal fishing gear, particularly the 'lu sbai mon' (a type of net). This operation resulted in the seizure and immediate destruction of hundreds of meters of illegal nets on-site. Mr. Ly Srey, Director of the Kampong Cham Provincial Department of Fisheries, explained the policy to intensify the crackdown on illegal fishing, based on the directives from the Provincial Department of Agriculture and the Provincial Governor. The crackdown targets old fishing grounds, rivers, lakes, and the entire Mekong River basin. He pointed out that the use of illegal fishing gear indiscriminately catches fish of all sizes, threatening the protection of fish during their spawning season and the vital submerged forests that serve as crucial breeding grounds. According to Mr. Srey, during the operation in Kang Meas district, in collaboration with the Kang Meas district authorities and the Stau Administrative Police Post, and with the coordination of the Kampong Cham Provincial Court Prosecutor's Office, one case of illegal fishing was detected along the Mekong River in Kang Meas district. The seized and destroyed illegal fishing gear included 11 'lu sbai mon' units, 210 meters of nets, and 120 poles. Additionally, several kilograms of various types of juvenile fish were released into the river. During the rainy season, when river levels typically reach 12 meters, many tributaries flow into lakes and old fishing grounds, leading to an increase in fishery resources. However, this period also becomes a breeding ground for illegal fishing activities. Mr. Ly Srey emphasized that effective and successful crackdowns on illegal fishing require the cooperation of local administrative authorities and security forces at all levels. Source: CEN Cambodia