From the point of view of hunting fisheries, most of the landed products of marine fisheries are caught in the exclusive economic zones of the countries in the region. In this process, good systems for traceability, certification and labels (such as eco-labels) should also be put in place. Southeast Asia provides 22.04% of the total production in Asia and 14.74% of the total production in the world.
Calls for Regional Fisheries Management Strategies
At the moment, initial discussions to draw up sub-regional area planning for sub-regional area 1 (under the MRC), 2, 3 and 4 have been done. The sub-region area no.1 for LMRB has a strong and active cooperation in technical and policy aspects under the MRC. In relation to sub-regional area no. 5 there is some dialogue to build on that has resulted from the post-tsunami activities and in relation to area no. 6 was the most development through bilateral talks between China and Vietnam.
Summary details for each Sub-regional management area
- Lower Mekong River Basin
- Gulf of Thailand
- Timor-Arafura Sea
- Southern and South Eastern South China Sea and Sulu-Sulawesi Sea The sub-regional areas can be separated into three parts as
- Andaman Sea
- Northern South China Sea and the Gulf of Tonkin
The Gulf of Thailand had one of the highest resource potentials in the Southeast Asian region due to shallow bottom topographic features that form the Gulf into a large basin less than 85 meters deep. Fisheries in the Gulf are diverse, with small-scale inshore fisheries and large-scale fisheries operating in offshore areas. Opportunities include exploring new tuna fishing areas, including potentials in the Thai EEZ, developing deep-sea fisheries on the continental slopes from 200-800m.
Sub-regional management areas, opportunities for action
With the establishment and development of the Sub-Regional Management Arrangements (in support of the ASEAN-wide Forum), countries will work together to make fishing activities more sustainable and through information sharing, improved port monitoring, etc., the demand for traceability can be met. Fish stocks can be managed by limiting fishing capacity within the sub-region and by integrating fisheries management with habitat management to enable wise use of fish stocks. The sub-regional mechanism should address the large migration of labor in fisheries, both in capture fisheries and in processing plants.
Marine fisheries and habitat interconnectivity in the Cambodian coastal waters of the Gulf of Thailand. The objectives of the review are to identify the diversity of marine ecosystems and their functions, the living resources (fisheries) that depend on the ecosystems, and their interconnections within the 55,600 km2 or 435 km long Cambodian exclusive economic zone or coastline. The objectives of the review are to identify the diversity of marine ecosystems and their functions, the living resources (fisheries) that depend on the ecosystems, and their interrelationships within Cambodia's maritime boundary in the Gulf of Thailand.
Coral reefs play an important role in the marine ecosystem, providing critical habitat for many marine species. According to Tana (1995), there are three species of marine mammals on the Cambodian coastline that are accidentally caught by gill nets and shrimp fishermen in the sea grass beds of Sihanoukville and Kampot bays, viz. Kong Province and near Kampot Province.
Coastal Ecosystems Connecting to the Exploited Resources and Uses 1 MPA S /F ISHERIES R EFUGIA
Fisheries sanctuaries in the context of the UNEP/GEF South China Sea project are defined as "spatially and geographically defined, marine or coastal areas in which specific management measures are applied to sustain important species [fishery resources] during critical stages of their life cycle, for their sustainable use" (UNEP, 2007). The transboundary waters between the provinces of Kien Giang (Vietnam) and Kampot (Cambodia) are located in the eastern part of the Gulf of Thailand. In the framework of the UNEP GEF project entitled "Reversal of environmental degradation trends in the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand", the transboundary demonstration site projects in Phu Quoc (Kien Giang, Vietnam) and Prek Ampil (Kampot, Cambodia) have been under implementation since 2005.
The Peam Krasop Demonstration Site includes joint management of wetland and mangrove habitats and direct cooperation with the Mangrove Demonstration Site in Trat Province Thailand through the Cambodia-Thailand Joint Declaration; exchange of knowledge and skills, data and information; and assisting each other in addressing illegal activities (MoU, 2006). The provinces of Koh Kong (Cambodia) and Trat (Thailand) managed to discuss and signed the similar cooperative policy framework for Kampot and Kien Giang provinces to jointly manage and conserve transboundary coastal ecosystems and resources. The map of the location of the Peam Krasop cross-border demonstration with Trat is attached as Annex 8.
Regulatory oversight by MoE, development of local institutions for the provision and maintenance of infrastructure, and compliance with environmental criteria and oversight. The development of laws and sub-decrees relating to environmental management, conservation and protection. Strengthening existing laws and sub-decrees relating to environmental management, conservation and protection.
To manage and control the use of Cambodia's natural resources, especially its aquatic resources, FiA established the Cambodian Fisheries Act (called Kret Chhbab Lek 33 Kra Chor in Khmer) for the management and administration of fisheries resources in Cambodia. The FiA implemented this law, which aimed to conserve and regulate the exploitation of Cambodia's fisheries resources. The new fisheries policy and law were formally adopted by the government of Cambodia on March 30, 2006.
When developing legislation, each institution tries to cover as many areas and resources as possible for the sake of its own benefits.
Institutional Framework
Representative of the Development Council of Cambodia Representative of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport Representative of the Ministry of Rural Development. Day-to-day management of coastal resources and their use is the responsibility of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, particularly the Fisheries Administration (Nelson, 1999). There are fisheries personnel at the district and provincial levels responsible for patrolling and managing commercial and medium fisheries.
The Ministry of the Environment's mandate overlaps to a certain extent with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. The Ministry of the Environment is responsible for the management of protected areas and for the supervision of environmental protection. This includes the protection of coral reefs, sea grasses and mangroves, especially when they occur in a protected area.
It may depend on the personal power of the provincial governor compared to officials at the central government level. This law will require all coastal settlements to approve an EIA administered by the Ministry of the Environment. There is currently no mechanism to coordinate the operational activities of the various ministries in the coastal zone.
In the future, coastal management can be managed through the National Steering Committee or through the Coastal Coordinating Unit of the Ministry of Environment, which is now trying to build its capacity through facility and equipment improvements.
Collaboration of National and Provincial Institutions
There is also a district-level fisheries staff within the Directorate of Fisheries whose direct responsibility is to monitor and control commercial and subsistence fishing and to protect marine resources and habitats (mangroves, seagrass and coral reefs) from illegal and destructive practices. In addition to fisheries, the government established environmental institutions to protect the environment and natural resources and stop environmental degradation. These include the Ministry of Environment (MoE) at the national level and the Provincial Department of Environments (DoE) at the provincial level.
DoE's responsibilities include conservation of natural resources; control over environmental protection measures; and management and conservation of marine natural resources in marine protected areas and national parks. A National Coastal Steering Committee has been established to oversee the management and development of natural resources and the environment for the entire coastline of the Kingdom of Cambodia, which includes these two key ministries along with the provincial Ministry of Tourism, the Royal Navy and provincial-level institutions from the three coastal municipalities/provinces. Following the introduction of decentralization of government management and the initiation of community-based management of natural resources, the government recognized and supported local community organizations, including some coastal fishing community organizations, which are officially recognized and responsible for the management and protection of natural resources within their defined areas.
Fishery owners, fish processors and transporters can also be considered stakeholders, although they represent a small group in the population, they are the influential people as they are relatively wealthy. These people could potentially contribute to conservation and resource management if they were aware and understood the important value of marine habitats and resources. Therefore, in the near future, tourism operators and the resource-related private sector must play a very important role in contributing to the sustainable use and management of coastal habitats and resources in Cambodia.
There are non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that work with communities in coastal provinces, including DANIDA, APHEDA, JICA and WCS.
Conclusion and Recommendations
The role of NGOs is very important in supporting activities, and they will be encouraged to participate in meetings and workshops to plan and develop a community-level resource management and conservation strategy. Because they have experience working with local communities, these NGOs could provide information and/or even expertise to the managing authorities. Mangrove resources: their management and use for forestry fisheries and aquaculture near Khlung Chanthaburi Province, Thailand.
Memorandum of Agreement between the Provincial People's Committee of Kien Giang Province (S.R. Viet Nam) and the Governor of Kampot Province (Kingdom of Cambodia). In: Book 1: Current Conditions, Part 1b: Review of Oceanography, Natural Resources and Fisheries of the Coastal Zone of Cambodia. Second amendment to the original Memorandum of Understanding signed on 30 November 2004 between the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the Department of Nature Conservation and Protection (DNCP).
Department of Nature Conservation, Ministry of Environment, #48, PO Box 1504, Preah Siahnouk Blvd., Tonle Bassac, Chamkarmon, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Draft Coastal Profile: Volumes I and II: Cambodia's Coastal Zone - Current Status and Threats. MoE/DANIDA Coastal Zone Management Project, #48, PO Box 1504, Preah Siahnouk Blvd., Tonle Bassac, Chamkarmon, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Report of the Second Joint Meeting between the Phu Quoc and Kampot Demonstration Site Management Teams.
List of Mangrove Species along the Coast of Cambodia (CZM, 1999)
Different Types of Mangrove Values in Cambodia (DNCP, 2007)
Summary of Coral Reef Status in Cambodia (FiA, 2004)
Species targeted by different fishing gears in Cambodia Fishing gear
Marine Fishery Resources of high value in the Psar Loeur Market, Sihanoukville, Cambodia in 2002 (Exchange Rate: 3850 Riel/USD)
Fishes
Bivalves
Gastropods
Marine and Horseshoe Crabs
Marine Endangered species found in Cambodian coastal waters
Rhincodon typus Whale shark present, rare Vu Scoliodon laticaudus Spadenose shark present LR/nt Sphyrna lewini Skulpet. Aetomylaeus nichofii Banded stingray present Vu Mobula japanica Japanese manta ray (as Manta . birostris) NT Tæniura lymma Blue-spotted fantail. Cephalopholis boenack Chocolate skin present DD Cromileptes altivelis Humpback seabass present DD Source: Jensen and Try, 2002; and IUCN, 2003.
Map of Transboundary Waters between the Provinces of Kien Giang (Viet Nam) and Kampot (Cambodia) (Memorandum of Agreement, 2008)
Map of Peam Krasop Wildlife Sanctuary Demonstration Site which is a transboundary mangrove management project with Trat Province
Indication on the important life cycle stage of mackerel in the Indo-Pacific region in the Gulf of Thailand. Phuket Marine Biological Center, Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Thailand email:[email protected]. Anthropogenic contribution to fisheries safety and aquatic resources Sanchai Tandavanitj1 and Damrong Silpachai2.
1 Senior Advisor on Senior Advisor on International Fisheries, Department of Fisheries, Thailand, email: [email protected].
