Rebekah Bell, FAO representative in Cambodia (right) gets hands on at Pursat province’s Kampong Prak fish conservation area. FAO
Kampong Prak, the third-largest fish conservation area on the Tonle Sap Lake, currently holds an estimated 300 tonnes of mixed fish stock for breeding purposes. It holds significant economic value, especially for endangered species like the thicklip barb and giant barb.
The area, which covers 2,700 hectares in Prursat province’s Krakor district, is one of 31 conservation zones on the lake. Together, they span 115,446 hectares.
According to Ouk Vibol, director of the Fisheries Conservation Department at the Fisheries Administration (FiA), fish stocks at Kampong Prak were estimated at 250 tonnes in 2023, increasing to around 300 tonnes in 2024, a rise of 40–50 tonnes over two years.
Speaking to an EU, UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and media delegation during a recent site visit under the CAPFISH-Capture programme, Vibol attributed the growth to strengthened enforcement against illegal fishing. He said Kampong Prak is now regarded as a model conservation area, alongside Fish Conservation Zone 06 in Koh Ka’ek village, of Kandieng district’s Raing Til commune.
“The fish here reproduce and swim out before people can catch them. I admire Kampong Prak – there are so many fish. When casting a net, they’re so plentiful that it won’t come out of the water. Both Kampong Prak and Koh Ka’ek are model conservation zones, rich in fish,” he said.
Vibol emphasised that conservation area designation means no fishing at all, even with small-scale family equipment. These areas are strictly reserved for fish breeding and scientific research.
Kampong Prak is now the third-largest fish conservation area, after Kampong Phluk in Siem Reap and Dey Roneat in Pursat.
It stretches 3 km by 7, and covers parts of three villages: Kampong Lor in Kampong Pur commune, Ou Akal in Ou Sandan commune and Kampong Prak in Sna Ansa commune.
During the dry season, water depth averages 0.8–1.2 metres, rising to 9–10 metres in the rainy season, depending on annual flood levels.
“Kampong Prak is rich in high-value fish with over 10 species. Notably, endangered species like the thick lip barb and giant barb still thrive here,” the fishery administration noted.
According to Phun Sovanna, head of the Krakor fisheries office, the area is marked by 18 boundary posts and protected by a regular patrol force, including fisheries officials, military police and Region 5 army personnel.
He added that shelters like bamboo/trees structures, poles, and sunken logs have been installed. These serve as habitats and hiding places, especially for young fish, protecting them from predators and strong waves.
“Every night, even in rain, our team goes on patrol. During the day, we use drones to monitor the area,” Sovanna said.
The drones, donated by provincial governor Khoy Rida, help reduce fuel costs for patrol boats and save time.
Rida described Kampong Prak as the “heart of Pursat's conservation efforts”, second only to Zone 06 at Koh Ka’ek.
“When we protect this area, fish thrive and spread. We estimate over 200 tonnes of broodstock are here. If each fish produces hundreds or thousands of offspring, the impact is immense,” he said.
However, not all fish reproduce in the area itself. During high water, they migrate to seasonally flooded forests, which are also under protection.
He said the deployment of around 1,000 Region 5 soldiers was part of a reform strategy to ensure sustainable biodiversity.
“The deployment of troops is part of efforts to make this biodiversity sustainable and more abundant, which is in line with the growth of our population. The intervention of the head of government is absolutely correct. If the population of Cambodia grows and fish decline, it's unsustainable. Government intervention here is absolutely right,” he added.
The governor noted that in this diverse ecosystem, a 100-metre net could catch a boatload of fish in one go.
Vibol explained that building floating ranger stations and installing concrete blocks helps prevent illegal fishing and protect fish habitats.
Across the 31 major conservation areas, there 43 patrol outposts and 410 boundary posts were installed between 2012 and 2023, with funding from the government, the EU, FAO and other partners.
“The boundaries are essential to inform people where fishing is allowed and where it isn’t. The government is committed to food security and sustainable conservation – both must go hand in hand,” added Vibol.
The EU-funded CAPFISH-Capture programme is implemented by the FiA, under the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, with technical support from FAO.
Rebekah Bell, FAO representative in Cambodia, highlighted how fisheries governance is key to sustainability.
“For sustainable fishing, it must be under management. Managed ecosystems ensure long-term biodiversity,” she said.
She noted that when a fishery comes under management, it means that the biodiversity is sustained, people are not fishing at times when fish are spawning, there is no fishing in areas of high conservation value, demarcation poles are in place and governments are is enforcing fishing legislation.
“And I think what we've heard today from both the communities, from the governor, from the fisheries administration, is that all of those elements are really working well and that we are starting to see the benefit of bringing a fishery under management,” she said.
She explained that several elements are all crucial to bringing a fishery under management.
Community plans must be implemented, ecosystems must be restored and habitats respected, along with demarcation and enforcement efforts. The research, data, policy legislation and strategic aspects of the FiA and the ministry are also important.
She told the tour participants that FAO are looking forward to its continuing technical partnership with local communities, the provincial government and with the FiA and ministry.
“We look forward to continuing our long trusted relationship,” she said.
