Where There is Water, There is Fish? Fisheries Issues in the Lower Mekong Basin from a Cambodian Perspective

Abstract

"The fishery situation in the lower Mekong basin can still be charcterized by the Cambodian proverb mijin tak, mijin trey (where there is water, there is fish). Maintaining this situation depends on the kinds of development that will take place, and more significantly on the awareness of decision makers about the importance of fisheries for the food security in the region and the (potential) threats to fisheries posed by the ongoing environmental degradation and infrastructure developments. The paper examines the extent of knowledge on the fish population in the region, which is severely limited by inadequate or no data collection at all, and its utilization. The different types of fisheries, such as ricefield, artisanal, medium and large scale, and their interactions are discussed with a view to their management. The contribution of these fisheries to the economy in general and to food security in particular is discussed. Then the reasons for the particularly high fish productivity in Cambodia are set out with respect to the biological processes involved and the rich diversity in fish species. Management challenges posed by environmental degradation and water resources development are discussed. Given its recent history, little focused fishery research has been carried out in the region to support water resources management and fisheries at national and regional levels, with the exception of Thailand. Recently though, capacity building and information gathering has been increasing. As the relevant parts of the Mekong River system and its resources are considered national assets by the riparian countries, there is a clear need for regional dialoogue and cooperation; organization mechanisms such as the Mekong River Agreement signed by Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam were set up. This agreement provided the Mekong River Commission with a new mandate."