200 families still living on the river in PP despite orders to leave

Since June last year, Phnom Penh City Hall has been dismantling floating houses, illegal structures and fish farming on the river in five districts.
Despite thousands of them being dismantled, there are still some 200 fish farming amilies living on the river as their livelihood depends solely on the river and they have no other businesses or anywhere to go.

Phnom Penh deputy governor Keut Chhe yesterday told the Royal Government Spokesperson Unit (RGSU) that the government needs to give another three years for these fishing communities to leave the river and find other jobs.

“These communities solely depend on the river for their livelihood and they have been doing this from one generation to another. Despite the order to evacuate, they do not know where to go, what work to do and they are in a dilemma,” he added.

He said the authorities have asked them to stop their fishing business on the river in three years because they understand their plight and their need for money to start a new business or learn a new skill.

Chhe said there are people who have been studying in schools for years and inspite of being educated and qualified, they still cannot get a decent job and officials expect this fishing community to look for another job besides that on the river.

“That is why the City Hall has given them some grace period, to raise fish, earn some money and change their business,” he added.

He said that there are about 200 fishing cages along the boundary of Phnom Penh’s Prek Pnov district and Kandal province with another 200 metres of ongoing fish raising.

He said the authorities are closely monitoring the activities on the river and any new fish cages being built by farmers will be dismantled immediately. Chhe said the authorities will not allow any of those raising fish to pass or rent their business to to others as the river belongs to the state.

According to the Fisheries Administration’s report, the total yield of the aquaculture and fisheries sector last year was 856,400 tonnes, of which 383,050 tonnes were freshwater, 125,000 tonnes were marine and 348,350 tonnes were aquaculture. Export from the sector was clocked at 3,469 tonnes. Profits from the sector was reported to be more than $1.713 billion.

The report added that there are a total 516 fishing communities in the country (475 freshwater communities and 41 marine communities). The communities are equivalent to 147,518 or 332,168 people.

https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501034001/ ... -to-leave/

You'd think that these communities would be given some sort of special status since this is how they have been living for generations, they outdate the current government don't they? Sad state of affairs

Those floating structures should be saved as part of the cultural heritage of Cambodia. I wish they would offer a place to sleep in. I would consider the experience.

truffledog wrote: ↑Thu Mar 03, 2022 12:59 am Those floating structures should be saved as part of the cultural heritage of Cambodia. I wish they would offer a place to sleep in. I would consider the experience.

ItWasntMe wrote: ↑Wed Mar 02, 2022 5:11 pm You'd think that these communities would be given some sort of special status since this is how they have been living for generations, they outdate the current government don't they? Sad state of affairs

I know it's been said in the past and in the article that these people have no visa and are working illegally, but I think this article is not about Vietnamese immigrants, but of mainly Cambodian fish farmers. With the article quoting "the river belongs to the state" I do think the governmental powers want the monopoly, and let's face it 383,050 tonnes of freshwater fish is a fair catch.

Good idea about the cultural heritage and the experience of these fish rearing families, I would agree with you and would also take that kind of opportunity to stay on a houseboat.