Prime Minister Hun Sen issued a sub-decree on Monday which extended the ban of commercial fishing in four provinces namely, Kandal, Kampong Cham, Takeo and Prey Veng provinces, along Mekong River, effective April 10. As per the decree all fishing lots, except those for lobster and linh fishing, will be closed on April 10.
Por Try, secretary of state at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, said that lobster and linh fishing did not pose serious problems, so were excluded from the ban. Mina Bunly, co-ordinator for NGO Fisheries Action Coalition Team, applauded the announcement saying that fishermen will now be able to find more fish and better support their families.
She said that the ban on commercial fishing in Tonle Sap Lake is due to fight illegal fishing and its adverse effects on villagers. The ban had been in place since last August and covered 600,000 hectares of fishing waters in Battambang, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Thom, Pursat and Siem Reap provinces.
