Management of freshwater capture fisheries in Cambodia: issues and approaches

Abstract

Located in the Lower Mekong Basin, the inland waters of Cambodia support an extensive fishery and provide food security to the country's largely subsistence oriented population. Current fishery production from inland waters is estimated to be more than 100,000 t, one third of which come from subsistence fishing. Despite government regulations, the fishery is threatened by loss of critical habitats like the inundated forests, destructive fishing practices and increasing commercial exploitation. This article reviews the consequences of existing systems of management and fishing rights allocation.