Declining fish catches
As a result of the heavy monsoon rains between May and October, the water level of the lake rises by several metres and floods an area the size of Schleswig-Holstein (one of the German federal states) every year. The people at the lake have adapted to the changing water levels and live in floating villages. During the monsoon season the whole life takes place on the water. 90 percent of the population live from fishing. But in the last two decades fish stocks have come under severe pressure. Illegal and unregulated fishing by commercial fishing fleets has led to the depletion of economically important fish species. As a result, the nets of local artisanal fishermen in the floating villages were increasingly left empty.
Finally, in 2012, the Cambodian government made a radical change. Virtually overnight, all commercial fishing concessions were cancelled and fishing rights were transferred in full to the local communities. The government called on the communities to set up local fishing committees, which were now responsible for the management of fish stocks. To date, some 500 of these Community Fisheries (CFi) have been established across Cambodia. Only very few of them, however, are in a position to implement targeted measures for the protection and conservation of community fish stocks. Illegal and unregulated fishing with modern fishing gear is still widespread. Fish stocks could recover within a few years through, if effective measures such as the designation of no fishing zones are declared and a fishing levy is collected to finance conservation measures.