Background
Community fisheries governance is a formal part of Cambodia’s inland fisheries management system, linking local committees with the Fisheries Administration and provincial authorities. Community fisheries in Cambodia are locally based organizations recognized through the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to support co-management of fishery resources. Registration gives community fisheries an administrative status within the national fisheries management framework.
The Mekong River provinces of Stung Treng and Kratie contain inland fisheries areas where livelihood activities, conservation work, and local resource management intersect. Registration of community fishery areas creates an administrative record for the boundaries and management responsibilities of a fishery community. Title documentation for community fishery areas is used to clarify recognized management locations and support longer-term administration of fisheries resources.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is the central government institution responsible for agriculture, forestry, and fisheries policy administration in Cambodia. Within the fisheries sector, the ministry works through the Fisheries Administration, provincial fisheries cantonments, local authorities, community committees, and development partners.
Key Developments
On 5–6 May 2026, Undersecretary of State Tim Boraks led a Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries working group on community fisheries to Stung Treng and Kratie provinces. The mission was conducted under the guidance of Secretary of State Has Sareth and focused on strengthening community fisheries administration and implementation.
The working group met at the Stung Treng Fisheries Administration Cantonment and at the Upper Mekong Aquatic Animal Research and Production Center. It also visited O’Mreah Community Fishery in Stung Treng province and Kampi Community Fishery in Kratie province.
Participants included Deputy Director General Kang Khim, department leaders and officials of the Fisheries Administration, FAO representatives from Rome and Phnom Penh, community fishery committees and members, local authorities, and fisheries cantonment officials from the two provinces.
Institutional Role
In Stung Treng province, the ministry reported 61 community fisheries in total, of which 60 had been officially registered with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. The ministry noted that community fishery locations in Stung Treng had not yet completed title registration as fishery management areas, and the priority plan is for fisheries cantonment officials and relevant officers to help prepare documentation for title registration requests.
In Kratie province, the ministry reported 68 community fisheries in total, of which 64 had been registered and recognized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Four community fisheries in Kratie had completed title registration, while the remaining community fisheries were identified for continued title registration requests as a priority.
Operational Implications
Two community fisheries in Stung Treng were selected for strengthened implementation as modern model community fisheries. O’Mreah Community Fishery received support through the Smart Fisheries Co-Management project, known as SFC FAO-ROK, which is funded by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea and implemented through FAO in cooperation with the Fisheries Administration. The project supported committee capacity-building and provided additional fish-farming livelihood support to 15 member families, including pond improvement, fish fingerlings, and fish feed.
The ministry also identified Tboung Khla Community Fishery in Stung Treng as having potential for fisheries ecotourism, while noting that it had not yet received partner support.
In Kratie province, Kampi Community Fishery was selected as a modern model community fishery and received SFC FAO-ROK capacity support. The community also developed fisheries ecotourism activities at Boeung Rumil, including equipment and three accommodation houses scheduled for completion in June 2026, with the stated objective of supporting community members and participation in Mekong dolphin conservation.
Tumnob Bak Community Fishery in Kratie had already completed title registration and was identified as having fisheries ecotourism potential due to its waterfall and flooded forest location. The ministry stated that coordination with the community to organize fisheries ecotourism operations is a priority plan for 2026 and 2027.
