Technical officers from the Tonle Sap Authority study recent changes in fisheries resources in the Tonle Sap area. Tonle Sap Authority
The Tonle Sap Authority is compiling documents which describe the rich biodiversity of the over 1-million-hectare area of the Tonle Sap Lake, with plans to publish a book. Its publication is expected to support the development of sustainable, long-lasting conservation plans.
The work being assembled examines the unique biodiversity of the region, including species of fish, waterbirds, reptiles and other animals, as well as the plants of the flooded forests.
As part of the process, officials from the authority and many partner institutions and organisations are discussing research findings and other technical mechanisms in depth, to ensure they are scientifically and technically accurate.
The documents will be shared and used as a foundation for students and researchers, particularly for creating collaborative conservation plans to protect and manage these resources sustainably and effectively.
Hell Tony, joint deputy-chairman of the authority, announced that initial studies have been completed, with efforts to collect detailed data still ongoing.
“We are meeting to discuss our opinions and determine final figures, and will invite inter-ministerial representatives to confirm our findings. For example, how many of an individual species have been identified by the Ministry of Environment, how many by the Fisheries Administrations (FiA) under the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and whether the censuses overlap,” he said.
He added that if new or differing findings emerge, the authority will compile them and include them in the publication.
Heng Kong, director of the Inland Fisheries Research and Development Institute at the FiA, noted that studies conducted over 10 years ago identified more than 140 fish species around the lake.
“At that time, studies did not focus on endangered species. Some species are becoming increasingly rare in the lake,” he said.
Based on his discussions with fishermen, for example, 20 years ago the narrow barred tiger perch was present in the lake. Now their numbers have significantly declined, with a small presence still found in the upper Mekong River.
Kong believed that the publication of the book was an excellent and important initiative, providing documentation for students, researchers and future generations.
He suggested that in addition to publication, the documents should also be made available on platforms like Google or other social media networks of the Tonle Sap Authority, allowing the public to access them.
Additionally, he called for the involvement of technical experts or partners specialising in fisheries, waterbirds and flooded forests to verify the data, avoiding any gaps in the information.
The Tonle Sap region is divided into three zones. Zone 1 includes residential areas and farmland legally owned by local residents. Zone 2 comprises areas for sustainable use and reserves that act as buffer zones for protection. Zone 3 is strictly protected flooded forests where any interference is prohibited. During the rainy season, water levels in Zone 3 can reach 6-7 metres.
The updated mapping of the three zones across six provinces, based on recent field verifications during the third phase of work, revealed the following land areas: Zone 1 covers 436,879.11 hectares, Zone 2 covers 413,488.08 hectares, and Zone 3 covers 561,634.60 hectares, according to the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology.
The Tonle Sap Authority, established in 2007, is a government entity responsible for studying, coordinating, and managing conservation and development activities in the Tonle Sap region to ensure sustainable benefits.
It includes representatives from various ministries and neighbouring provinces and has been actively conducting research and conservation work as a key part of its mission.
Specialists from the authority are conducting ongoing studies on fisheries production both inside and outside designated fishing lots along Tonle Sap Lake in Phnom Penh and Kandal province, as well as surrounding provinces.
The studies aim to monitor changes in fishery yields, fish species diversity and the processing and marketing of fisheries products from both commercial lots and other fishing methods.
Additionally, the research evaluates fishery resources by type of fishing gear in study areas, updates species and biological characteristics of aquatic resources by habitat, feeding habits and water environment, and assesses the migration of fishery resources along streams and the biological features of fish and other species.
Khvay Atitya, spokesperson for the environment ministry, noted that the ministry is dedicated to the protection of natural ecosystems, particularly wetlands in the Tonle Sap area and Ramsar sites, which are critical sources of biodiversity.
“This conservation work helps preserve ecological systems essential for life, ensuring harmony between humans and nature, and promoting sustainable livelihoods through nature tourism, birdwatching, fisheries and other flooded forest areas,” he said.
The ministry has also planted over 4,000 flooded forest saplings in the Tonle Sap area and plans to plant an additional 50,000 in Siem Reap province to restore the region further.
“The ministry is collaborating with stakeholders to keep the Tonle Sap clean, free from plastic waste and to protect and manage natural resources for sustainable development,” he added.
