Endangered Fish Cooking Incident Sparks Increased Public Awareness for Fishery Resource Protection

Recently, a lively discussion erupted in Cambodia surrounding an incident where a prominent figure, Mr. Pok Mi, cooked and posted about a fish identified as "stockfish" on social media. Mr. Khim Finan, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, stated that the public's active participation in expressing opinions is a positive sign, indicating a greater understanding and concern for natural resource conservation compared to the past. He affirmed that Mr. Pok Mi has consistently been active in promoting educational messages and preventing illegal fishing activities. However, recognizing all types of fish that are under threat remains a challenge for the general public. Therefore, this event has become a lesson for the public to increase caution and understand beforehand whether the type of fish to be consumed is rare or endangered. According to the spokesperson, to make participation in protection more effective, it is most crucial to continue disseminating information and educating each other about fish species under threat. Instead of blaming each other, whether between those who know and those who don't, or between buyers, sellers, and fishermen, over events that have already occurred, we should focus on providing constructive support and assistance to fishery officials, armed forces, relevant authorities, and activists who are striving to protect and restore these resources. Mr. Khim Finan expressed his hope that this incident serves as a reminder to all of us to continue cooperating in preserving and protecting Cambodia's fishery resources for the long-term benefit of future generations.