The freshwater capture fi sheries of Cambodia are among the most productive in the world (Baranetal 2006, MRC 2010). Fishing has been central to rural livelihoods in Cambodia at least since the times of Angkor; along with rice farming, it holds a central place in rural livelihood strategies and cultural practices, involving 2 million to 4 million rural people (Baran et al 2006, MRC 2010). Fish and other living aquatic resources are enormously important for food security and nutrition, as noted earlier, contributing up to three-fourths of animal protein in rural diets (Hortle et al 2007). In 2009, fi sheries contributed 25.2 percent to agricultural sector activities and therefore are a significant economic activity. Inland capture fisheries dominate national fisheries production.
While it is known that natural production varies from year to year and is strongly infl uenced by hydrological patt erns, determining estimates of production is very diffi cult (Coates 2002). Generally production is estimated using catch records and is stated as being between 280,000 tonnes and 400,000 tonnes per year of fi sh, with additional production of around 60,000 tonnes per year of ‘other aquatic animals’16 (OAA) (MRC 2004).
Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 8 Page 35.
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