(Svay Rieng): Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet instructed authorities to intensify efforts to curb large-scale clam dredging, where single operations can harvest dozens of tons at a time, harming the livelihoods of local fishing communities.

The premier spoke on Wednesday (Jul. 1) during the National Fish Day celebration in Svay Rieng Province.

He also emphasised the need to reconsider and develop a sustainable approach that better protects the interests of fishermen who rely on fishing as their daily livelihood.

According to the prime minister, the shortage of specialised law enforcement personnel has forced the Royal Government to rely on the armed forces to help suppress crimes involving natural resources, both on land and in water. The military also safeguards Cambodia's territorial integrity along the country's borders.

“I instructed the army units stationed around the Tonle Sap to mobilise. For the last two years, the military has been fighting natural resource crimes both on land and at sea. In addition, they are now obligated to conduct border patrols to safeguard our land. We, along with the Fisheries Administration, other relevant authorities, and local communities, need to devise a sustainable solution. We aim to stop depending on the military and avoid sending more troops,” the premier underlined.

The prime minister believes that once the relevant ministries and institutions establish a clear framework for shared responsibility, they will strengthen the capacity of local communities, local authorities, and technical officials to manage fisheries more effectively, rather than relying on the military to suppress crimes in inland waters, as the armed forces already carry many other responsibilities.

On the occasion, Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet underscored that the government's objective is to protect the interests of most Cambodians. He noted that only some individuals have the capacity to conduct large-scale fishing operations that can cause significant damage to fish stocks. Therefore, if those few violate the law, authorities must take action to protect people's livelihoods and preserve fish resources for the future.

He also noted that, following the government's directives, the armed forces have played an active role in cracking down on land- and sea-based natural resource crimes. These operations have led to repeated enforcement actions, including the arrest of offenders for prosecution in accordance with the law.
=FRESH NEWS