Regenerating Fish Harvests in Cambodian Villages

Cambodia is one of the world’s most climate vulnerable nations.

Cambodian life and culture is perfectly synchronized with the seasonal patterns unchanged for centuries. That’s all up in the air now.

We see how climate change disrupts Earth’s natural cycles. We’ve seen the footage of tropical storms and floods displacing entire communities. We’ve seen heat waves kill thousands, and droughts make water further inaccessible for millions all over the world.  

Cambodia is not yet prepared for the challenges posed by climate change. It needs to build resilience.

Cambodia will need to implement low-tech, affordable solutions in response to changing weather and seasonal patterns, precisely what the Community Fish Refuge accomplishes.    

The Refuge protects fish populations during severe drought seasons. With less monsoon rains, subsistence Cambodians will need to conserve water while reaping the largest possible yields from every square foot of flooded lands. We are there to help these communities regenerate their fish harvests.  

The COP21 meetings in Paris and the agreements by world leaders are important for protecting long-forgotten rural communities like those found in Cambodia. Should the world become less habitable, the first to suffer are these communities that have long lived off the land in relative harmony for thousands of years.

Please get involved today and give rural Cambodians the chance to secure their own futures. 

The Community Fish Refuge (CFR) Committee is quite conscious about preserving their precious asset.  And rightly so!  The Committee intends to make the CFR sustainable and thus has engaged in brainstorming sessions with the local authority for ways to better communicate with both the public and private sectors to best support CFR’s action plans. As a productive entity, they want to acquire the skills to enhance capacity, increase fish harvest and improve their livelihoods overall.

In addition to training requests, the CFR Committee aims to expand the CFR, implement efficient canal/channel flows for fish migration, increase general awareness of fishery laws, and educate on the disadvantages of pesticide use.  But above all, they wish to protect their fisheries.  What better way to do so than to convert a careless citizen into an ambassador? 

Recently, the CFR Committee has implemented a patrolling schedule for the members to look after their ponds day and night.  Unfortunately, some Cambodians fish illegally in the CFR zone sometimes unknowingly, sometimes out of desperation.  The formation of these patrolling teams has reduced unlawful fishing, but more importantly convinced many villagers that taking part in the CFR philosophy could enhance their lives and strengthen their community. 

In August 2014, the Fisheries Administration office in conjunction with TCO conducted a CFR election and Mr. Vorn Heam, a villager in the Bantoat Bosh Village, was appointed as the Deputy Chief of the CFR Committee.  Even though Mr. Heam was a former wrongdoer, he now has the opportunity to productively give back to his community and has transformed himself into a beacon of hope for the entire village and surrounding areas. 

Mr. Heam has now internalized the benefits of the CFR methodology and has been a critical player in protecting the CFR ever since.  He has taken an active role in patrolling the fisheries and has become one of the most influential ambassadors of the system.  He attends Committee meetings, studies best practices, and spreads the word wide.  His commitment to patrolling the ponds is truly admirable.  This simple story demonstrates how a man can indeed change for the better and improve his community through civil engagement.

Below are a few snapshots of the Trapeang Phluous CFR Committee’s most recent meeting.  Enjoy, and thank you once again for your support in this revolutionary philosophy.