The Role of Community Fish Refuges (CFRs) in Promoting the Integration of Water, Land, and Aquatic Food System Governance: A Case Study of the CFRs in the Mekong Delta and the Tonle Sap Lake

Abstract

This study examines the role of CFRs in promoting the integration of water, land, and aquatic food systems, with particular​ emphasis on their function as landscape-level connectors linking rivers, floodplains, irrigation systems, and rice fields. Moving beyond a narrow focus on fish conservation, the study conceptualizes CFRs as multi-use, community-governed socio-ecological systems that contribute simultaneously to fisheries productivity, agricultural water management, and local food and nutrition security. The research addresses three overarching questions: how different governance models influence CFR effectiveness and scalability; how CFRs can be demonstrated as landscape models for integrated resource management; and how integrated governance differs from conventional, sector-specific approaches. The study draws on six CFR case studies located in Prey Veng Province in the Mekong Delta and Kampong Thom Province in the Tonle Sap floodplain. These sites were selected to capture variation in hydrological conditions, institutional arrangements, and livelihood contexts, including CFRs connected to large lakes (Boeng Sneh and Boeng Ream) and to irrigation systems such as the Taing Krasaing Irrigation System. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining secondary data review, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and participatory mapping. Analysis focused on CFR physical characteristics, hydrological and ecological connectivity, institutional recognition, management structures, community participation, and links with district-level governance mechanisms such as District Technical Working Groups (DTWGs).