PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA: Relevant government stakeholders from national, provincial, district, commune and village level as well as development partners and NGOs attended the workshop, discussed and provided inputs into the findings of research into social protection for small-scale fishers in Cambodia, focusing specifically on the Tonle Sap, which was jointly organized by the Council for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD), the Fisheries Administration (FiA) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, FAO and WorldFish Cambodia.

 The research was jointly conducted by FAO and the WorldFish, aiming at highlighting vulnerabilities of small-scale fishers, and identifying entry points for improving the policy and operational linkages between social protection and fisheries policies and programs in Cambodia in order to reduce poverty and increase resilience amongst small-scale fishers in Cambodia.

Research shows that fisheries are an important part of Cambodia’s economy, contributing 8-12% of Cambodia’s GDP. The sector is also very important for food and nutrition security. Fish is the most frequently eaten meat in Cambodia, eaten four to five days per week on average[1]. In fishing-dependent areas, fish is twice as abundant in Cambodians’ diets as pork, chicken and beef combined[2]. Over one third of households in the Tonle Sap and lowland areas report engaging in fishing to mitigate risks of food insecurity[3]. Fish is also an importance source of protein and nutrients, contributing over 80% animal protein intake to people’s diet, and providing essential nutrients (Iron, Zinc, Vitamin A, Calcium and Iodine) that are particularly important for pregnant women and young children.

H.E Dr. Sok Silo, Deputy Secretary-General of CARD, noted that “the fisheries sector has contributed to national economic growth, social equity, food security, nutrition improvement and occupation opportunities, which have reduced out-migration and provided income generation in order to improve local livelihoods and to reduce poverty”.

However, as discovered by this research, small-scale fishers in Cambodia are vulnerable in a range of areas including exposure to storms and other environmental shocks, fluctuations in the availability of fish and other aquatic animals, children being involved in fishing to the detriment of their schooling, limited ownership of assets (including land), and high incidences of vector- and water-borne diseases, among others. The research also showed that small-scale fishers may not be adequately prioritized in policy and planning, and may be under-represented in statistics including censuses.

“In order to meet the population demand and ensure a sustainable use of fisheries resources, the Royal Government of Cambodia have been trying to promote social protection programmes and strengthening implementation of fishery law, eliminating all forms of illegal fishing, strengthening community fisheries and establishing community fish refuges, and urging for studies and regular awareness raising,” as highlighted by H.E Dr. Sok Silo during his opening remark at the event.

Mr Alexandre Huynh, FAO Representative stated that “The Royal Government of Cambodia has made impressive strides in reducing poverty in recent times. The two focus areas of this study – social protection and fisheries – are important for the millions of Cambodian people, particularly those in rural areas, who remain vulnerable to specific shocks and who could fall back into poverty.”

The WorldFish Cambodia research team outlined specific recommendations for strengthening the links between social protection and fisheries, including:

• strengthening links between national, provincial and commune-level bodies for fisheries and social protection, including the National Social Protection Council, fisheries and social protection and nutrition technical working groups, FiA, commune councils, Community Fisheries (CFis) and the emerging CFi network;
• increasing the visibility of small-scale fishers in research, policy, planning and decision-making;
• strengthening the abilities of FiA sub-national staff and community fisheries (CFis) and small-scale fishing village chiefs to advocate for small-scale fishers’ entitlements to social protection;
• when no-take conservation zones are created within CFi-managed areas, the location and access rules need to be set carefully to ensure that poor fishing families within the community are not negatively affected by it;
• prioritizing Cambodian fresh fish and fish products (such as small fish powder) in home-grown school feeding;
• strengthening small-scale fishers’ awareness of what constitutes good, basic medical treatment and medication;
• strengthening feedback and accountability mechanisms for the Health Equity Fund in SSF areas;
• increasing SSFs’ access to conditional scholarships for vocational training;
• considering a cash-for-work program for SSFs, focusing on planting and protecting flooded forests around the Tonle Sap Lake and other public works activities.

“Social Protection is a key pillar of the FAO strategy to reduce rural poverty. While it is important that fishers, as other rural poor, are adequately covered by social protection systems we are also exploring, in Cambodia as in other countries, how social protection can improve sustainable use of fisheries resources. Social protection, in fact, when appropriately designed and implemented, can support poor and vulnerable households, including fisheries-dependent households, to better respond to the shocks they face. This, in turn, can have important household- and community-level outcomes, leading to improved consumption and food and nutrition security, ultimately to improved rural development and human capital. But it can also reduce negative environmental coping strategies,” said Ms. Mariaeleonora D’Andrea, Fisheries and Aquaculture Officer of FAO.  

Ms. Kaing Khim from FiA concluded the workshop by noting the important roles that CFis can have in protecting and conserving fish stocks, and provided encouragement for further engagement with FiA on CFi legislative improvement to support small-scale fishers in Cambodia and align them to the guiding principles of the FAO Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication.