Kampong Cham Province Releases 360,000 Fish Fry to Boost Fishery Resources and Tourism

On July 11, 2026, in Kampong Thom Province, Cambodia, a ceremony was held at the 1 Mokra Reservoir in Suntuk District to release 360,000 mixed fish fry and juvenile prawns. This event, organized by the Provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries in collaboration with the provincial administration and the Organization for Action for Development (AFD), was presided over by H.E. Noun Pharat, Governor of Kampong Thom Province, and his wife. Mr. Pen Vannarith, Director of the Provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, stated that the release of fish fry into the 1 Mokra Reservoir aims to replenish fish stocks, benefiting the local community with a sustainable food source and preserving broodstock for future reproduction. He emphasized that fisheries are the second most important sub-sector after crops, providing essential food. He also appealed to citizens and local authorities to participate in protecting fishery resources and preventing illegal fishing practices, such as electrofishing and using seine nets, echoing the sentiment, "Fishery resources are for all of us; we raise fish, and fish raise us." H.E. Noun Pharat highlighted that the rapid population growth, including the increasing number of fishermen around Tonle Sap Lake, exerts significant pressure on fishery resources and other natural assets. This poses a major obstacle to achieving sustainable plans for the use and development of fishery and other natural resources. During the event, H.E. Noun Pharat provided several recommendations: 1. The Provincial Fisheries Administration must continue to broadly and deeply disseminate the Fisheries Law and related legal documents. 2. Promote aquaculture development and fish breeding to provide fry for citizens to raise, and focus on improving the quality of processed fishery products. 3. Strengthen established fishing communities to become free of illegal fishing activities. 4. Properly maintain boundary markers of conservation areas and effectively manage and protect them. 5. District/Commune authorities with flooded forests within their jurisdiction must take strict measures against offenders who destroy flooded forests and protect them. 6. The Provincial Fisheries Administration should continue to plant more flooded forests on land reclaimed from encroachment to restore them and continue the process of requesting state land registration. This initiative underscores Cambodia's commitment to sustainable fisheries management and the economic development of its rural communities, with a particular focus on addressing the challenges posed by population growth and environmental pressures.