Fish Yield Up But Exports Fall

KHMER TIMES
CHEA VANNAK

Cambodia is still unable to meet the export market demand for larger fish. KT/Chor Sokunthea

Export of Cambodia’s fish decreased in the first 11 months of 2016 compared with the same period last year, despite the yield of inland and marine fish seeing an increase, a ministry report said.

According to a report released by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the yield for freshwater fish increased by 13,200 tons to 61,700 tons while the yield for marine fish increased by 1,125 tons to 10,025 tons.

However export figures saw a decrease in that same period, with there being only 8,200 tons of live fish exported, a 300 ton decrease, while only 4,600 tons of processed fish products were exported, down 100 tons compared to the same period last year.

The revenue from the industry stood at $500,000, a $350,000 decrease from last year.

Neither officials from the ministry nor the fisheries administration could be reached for a comment yesterday.

However, Minh Bunly, Tonle Sap Lake program coordinator at the Fishery Action Coalition Team, attributed the decline to the local industry’s inability to meet the demand of the export market for larger-sized fish.

“Based on data from the study, the amount of fish caught is large but these are mostly small-sized fish and very few are large ones,” Mr. Bunly said.

“Also it is related to the demand of fish which isn’t very much so it brings the export numbers of fishery products down.”

While acknowledging that the government’s crackdown on illegal fishing has been effective, he added that there were still loopholes for those committing the crime.

“Corrupt officials keep the illicit activity alive,” said Mr. Bunly.

He also noted that the dam construction on the upstream of the Mekong River could also be a contributing factor for the poor quality fish yield.

“If the construction of the dam were to continue, absolutely the demand for quality big fish will decline,” Mr. Bunly warned.

“Before, we exported fish caught in nature but now with the decline of natural fish so we only have fish bred in captivity,” he pointed out.

Mr. Bunly said neighboring countries could stop importing fish from Cambodia “because they also have fish bred in captivity.”

Cambodia’s inland fish catch is largely exported to Singapore, Malaysia and China while marine fish harvests are mostly exported to Thailand and Vietnam, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization.

In 2015, Cambodia’s total fish export was valued at $1 million, a 116 percent increase compared with the year before.