In an effort to prevent unsound fishing practices along the coast, officials at the Ministry of Agriculture’s Department of Fisheries have produced a short educational video urging fisherman to preserve their marine resources.
Shingo Takahashi, an adviser to the Department of Fisheries, said Monday that the 17-minute program was produced by his department and the ministry in conjunction with the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
Fisheries department officials have said that overfishing, habitat destruction and illegal practices—such as the indiscriminate use of seine nets, explosives, poison and electric currents from batteries—have resulted in steadily declining catches.
The program contains scenes from areas around the coastal towns of Sihanoukville, Kep, Kampot and Koh Kong, where fishermen complain of fishing grounds depleted by encroaching commercial trawlers and a high level of independent competition.
Huoth Thoung, the director of Koh Kong’s Department of Agriculture, said Monday that the commercial trawlers have especially been a problem in the shallow waters of Botum Sakor and Sre Ambel districts. Shrimp farming and charcoal production have also led to the destruction of much of the area’s mangrove swamps, favored breeding grounds for many marine species.
Aside from discouraging short-sighted practices, the program advocates aquaculture development, particularly pen-raising sea bass and mangrove crab, and the establishment of marine sanctuaries.
The program, which is titled “The Marine Fisheries Resource Management,” is scheduled for broadcast on TVK seven times, on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 6:30 pm, between March 5 and March 30.
