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NGO Statement, 2000 Consultative Group Meeting On Cambodia


 FISHERIES

TABLE OF CONTENTS


NGO Statement to the 2000 Consultative Group Meeting on Cambodia

- Home.................................
- About us.............................
- Message.............................

- Introduction........................
- Progress.............................
- Good Governance................
- Human Resource 
- Development
......................
- Reaching the Poor...............
- Conclusion..........................

Sectoral Papers..................

- Agriculture..........................
- Child’s Rights....................
- Commune Administration 
- and Decentralization
............
- Commune Elections..........
- Disability and Rehabilitation..
- Education............................
- Fisheries..........................
- Forestry Reform..................
- Gender and Development.....
- Good Governance................
- Health................................
- HIV/AIDS...........................
- Human Rights......................
- Landmines..........................
- Land Reform.......................
- Microfinance........................
- Weapons Reduction.............

General NGO Information...

References.........................

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


INTRODUCTION

While the donor community has paid close attention to the forestry sector in Cambodia, little attention has been given to commercial fishing and its impacts on local people's livelihood and food security. Fish has long been part of the staple diet of Cambodians, second only to rice in consumption. About 70% of Cambodians' animal protein intake per capita consumption is derived from freshwater fish. The fishery sector contributes from 5.3% to 8.5% of the GDP, which ranks the fishery sector as an important sector for the national economy.

As Cambodia moves towards a free market economy, the commercial pressure on natural resources has dramatically increased. Privatization of the remaining fishery resources has had a great impact on local livelihoods, leading to an alarming increase in conflicts over fisheries.

In order to protect people's livelihoods and natural resources, NGOs have advocated that government institutions apply more effort to solving fishing problems. NGOs have also been piloting another approach, namely community fisheries, in order to protect fishery resources. The experience of NGOs in Stung Treng province show that community fisheries have helped reduce illegal fishing by up to 60% since it was established.

KEY ISSUES

There are numerous problems within the fishery sector, some of which are listed below:

  • Impact of commercial fishing on local communities Commercial fishing has had a negative impact on local communities. People's access to fishing for subsistence living has been denied by fishing concessionaires. People's present and future food security has been affected. The conflict between local people and fishing concessionaires has been alarming, sometimes resulting in violence against those who are weak and powerless. The state's mechanisms for avoiding these impacts on local people are inadequate.

  • Illegal fishing by fishing concessionaires
    The commercial fishing lot system has failed to prevent illegal fishing. Illegal fishing by fishing concessionaires is occurring through- out the country. It is a major cause of the destruction and the decline of fishery resources. Despite the recent crackdown on illegal fishing, the activities of the concessionaires remain unchanged as they seek to maximize their income in order to pay operational costs, government auction fees and numerous informal payments.

  • Inadequate legal framework for controlling commercial fishing
    The current Fishery Law was promulgated in 1987 under the then socialist government. Since then, privatization of fishery resources has developed, and enforcement and implementation of the law has been inadequate. The effort to draft a new Fishery Law, with support from the World Bank, has shown the desire of the government to reform the fishery sector. However, NGOs are concerned that, unless there is adequate consultation, laws drafted by foreign consultants often do not sufficiently reflect the needs of local people who are affected by the law.

  • Lack of legal framework for community fisheries
    Efforts to promote natural resource management and local livelihoods through community fisheries have been hampered through the lack of a legal framework and enforcement. Villagers who invest precious time, labour and resources into community-based management of fisheries currently have no guarantee of future benefit, in some cases losing their fishing areas to fishing concessionaires and military personnel.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Fishery resources have declined, and this affects the food security and livelihoods of local people. Efforts to protect fish stocks for local consumption are needed. One way to help combat illegal fishing and protect fishery resources is the introduction of community fisheries. However, in order to do this, the following recommendations are suggested:

  •  Legally protect the right of local communities living nearby fishing areas to fish for a subsistence living. Allow for community fisheries in order to protect fishery resources for sustainable usage and avoid conflicts over these resources. 

  • Involve local communities, NGOs and concerned agencies and institutions in a consultative process in order to devise a more realistic and transparent draft fishery law.

  • Act to curtail the militarization of fishery resources. Ensure that demobilization proceeds carefully so as to avoid any exacerbation of existing problems.

  • Donor assistance to the fisheries sector should focus on improving the welfare of the local communities affected by developments in the fisheries sector. A narrow emphasis on increasing government revenues from fisheries should be avoided, as this may lead to unsustainable resource extraction.


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