Joint forces investigate fishing crimes on the Tonle Sap Lake in Phat Sanday commune, Kampong Svay district, Kampong Thom province, in February. Royal Cambodian Army
Local and national authorities are urging residents around the Tonle Sap Lake to end the use of illegal fishing gear and instead use temporarily approved equipment while awaiting the formal implementation of a new fisheries law.
This push follows findings by authorities at both the local and national levels that many fishermen have been using illegal fishing gear, including illegal gill nets, electric shock devices and oversized or prohibited traps, particularly in the Tonle Sap area.
Tea Kim Soth, head of the Siem Reap Provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, stated on Tuesday, April 1, that nearly 140 cases involving the use of illegal fishing equipment were detected in the first quarter of 2025. Officials from the agriculture ministry have been conducted wide-reaching public education campaigns with fishermen to educate them on the need to end illegal practices.
“In general, they’re not catching as much fish, so they tend to resort to illegal fishing gear. Our visits aim to guide them towards using legal equipment again,” he explained.
He emphasised that illegal fishing not only threatens fish stocks but also jeopardises the livelihoods of local fishermen. He urged communities to adopt legal fishing methods to ensure long-term fishery sustainability, which supports both daily living and Cambodia’s food security.
In the first quarter of 2025, authorities investigated and suppressed illegal fishing operations across multiple districts in the Tonle Sap region, from Chikreng to Kralanh in Siem Reap province. The department reported that 139 seizures of illegal equipment were carried out.
The Military Police’s Anti-Illegal Fishing Task Force, which operates in the Tonle Sap area, reported that in the same period, they arrested 478 suspects, including 47 Vietnamese nationals.
Additionally, they seized 7,225 fish traps, over 2 million metres of illegal nets, 1,194 sets of nets and traps, 7,406 electric fishing rods and traps and over 500,000 bamboo poles used for illegal fishing.
They also released 27 tonnes of fish and 725 tonnes of other aquatic life, while 315 electric shock devices, 56 boats, two vehicles, 14 boat engines, eight mechanical net winches, four air pumps and a homemade gun were confiscated.
Additionally, 15 electric chillers and 21 batteries used in illegal fishing were discovered. More than 11,870 people were educated about illegal fishing, and 441 fishermen, operating 98 boats, signed agreements pledging to end the use of banned equipment.
This report was presented at a March 24 meeting in Pursat province, held to discuss current efforts to combat illegal fishing. During the discussion, officials temporarily approved certain fishing gear while awaiting the formal enforcement of the new fisheries law, which is currently under with the National Assembly.
The permitted equipment includes 250-metre-long fish traps with a 0.03-metre mesh, canoes using 18-horsepower motors for drag-net fishing, and hand-operated seine nets (up to 100 metres long, with 0.015-metre mesh).
During meetings with over 900 fishermen across three districts in Siem Reap on March 27-28, agriculture ministry undersecretary of state Pen Phallyka noted that the temporary approval is only a transitional measure until the new fisheries law is formally enacted.
Ouk Vibol, head of the ministry’s Fisheries Conservation Department, explained that the new law is under review. Discussions on the law will begin once the National Assembly reconvenes in May after its recess.
