The Phnom Penh Post –
At least 1,843 cases of illegal fishing were busted by the authorities in the last eight months and 19 out of 89 perpetrators were imprisoned by the court, said a report on the overall result of fisheries crimes cracked down nationwide.
The Post obtained the report from the Fisheries Administration of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
“One hundred and fifteen cases out of 1,843 were sent to court. The fisheries administration imposed interim fines on perpetrators for 61 cases equivalent to a total of 142 million Riel ($35,697) while there were 1,667 cases where tools are confiscated or destroyed,” the report said.
With the increased rainfall sharply flooding creeks and lakes, which are habitats for fish spawning in the rainy season, fishing crimes have begun to take place again, especially in provinces around the Tonle Sap lake.
On September 16, fisheries administration officers and Military Police in Pursat province cracked down on fishing crimes in Kampong in Ansar Chambak commune, Krakor district.
They found and destroyed numerous fishing nets over 2,870m in length, as well as 1,780 posts, among other things, said Phum Vimol, the Pursat provincial fisheries administration officer.
According to fishing communities and local authorities in Kampong Leng district in Kampong Chhnang province and Kampong Svay district in Kampong Thom province, fishing crimes significantly increase when there are floods.