Cambodia's Abundance of Fish

Early morning in Phnom Penh. Gradually, sunlight emerges from the haze. The weekly market in 178th street -- only a few steps away from the king’s palace -- is already bustling. Salesmen are hollering their prices for pig's heads, rice, vegetables and fruit -- all the Cambodian heart and stomach could ever wish for.

What's most impressive is the overwhelming diversity of fresh fish and seafood. Freshly-caught, some specimens are still thrashing around as they are offered for sale. They are washed and gutted according to the clients' wishes.

Rachmatjan works at the market. She has spread out her goods on a sheet in front of her. "I come here every morning at seven o’clock to sell my fish," she explains. "I get the fish from a neighbour in my village about ten kilometres from here. I pay about 25 US dollars for it. Altogether, I earn about four US dollars."

Fish employs 30% of population

Like Rachmatjan, many Cambodians live from fishing. The vice-director of the fishing authority Nam says that the industry is especially important for the poor. "According to the official statistics, about 30 percent of the population is directly or indirectly involved in fishing," he says.

The official statistics are impressive -- more than 400,000 tonnes of fish a year are caught in Cambodia's inland waters. About 50,000 are exported. Fishing makes up 12 percent of the country's gross domestic product.

But now, the country’s unique richness of fish species is being threatened by rapid population growth and the economic boom. Eric Baron from the Worldfish Centre says the dams are a big source of concern because they modify the hydrology of the system.

"We need to clearly assess how much we can gain from a dam and how much we will lose in terms of fish production," he warns. "The production that happens without any intervention and is free is being lost. Ultimately, yes, the place will become developed anyway because it's unavoidable and necessary. But it’s also a matter of pace."

Natural resources need protection

Choun Chamnan, from the national fisheries and forestry development agency, is also concerned about his country's future. "If we balance the benefit from the dam construction -- this will provide job opportunities to the people, providing general income for the national economy. But if we destroy our natural resources, people will suffer."

Economic growth and rising population figures mean that the competition for water will only become harsher. Dams for the generation of electricity and huge irrigation projects are causing environmental activists to fear for the worst.

But they still have hope that the richness of species will be saved, thus in the long run benefiting not only Cambodia's nature but its inhabitants.