Business Briefing: Fishing Payload Up as Season Draws to a Close

According The Cambodia Daily Newspaper, Volume 42, Issue 58-On Friday, June 5, 2009.

The Cambodian fishing season officially ended Monday, renewing a seasonal ban on all fishing activities until September in order to help replenish fish stocks, Fisheries Administration Director-General Nao Thuok said this week. "The number of fish caught in the first five months of 2009 increased by 10 percent compared to the same period in 2008," said Mr Thuok, adding that the Ministry of Agriculture was working very hard to crack down on illegal fishing methods, including the use of electricity. Mr Thuok said that a total of 391,000 tons of fish were caught between January and May, 10 percent of which was exported to Thailand and Vietnam. Although the government is trying to help maintain stocks through the implementation of a four-month fishing ban, Mr Thuok said there was currently no quota system stipulating how many fish can be caught during the season. His administration is collaborating with the Mekong Fishing Committee to compile more data on fish stocks inside Cambodia's rivers, he said.

Republished by CI, Cambodia.