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Cambodia: Call to block illegal fish imports
Agriculture Minister Veng Sakhon yesterday reiterated a call for authorities to prevent the smuggling of farmed fish from neighbouring countries to supply local demand.
The move is to protect the local farmed fish industry.
Sakhon made the call during a visit to the farmed fish zone in Phnom Penh’s Prek Pnov district.
He also called on local consumers to buy domestically farmed fish.
Sakhon said his visits made so far is to encourage farmers to continue rearing fish to supply domestic demand, in line with the government’s policy on boosting food production.
He noted that farmed fish production has increased notably after the government efforts to encourage local food production and reduce dependence on imports.
Nget Touch, manager of a fish farm in Prek Pnov district, yesterday welcomed Sakhon’s call, saying that it would encourage local fish farmers to continue rearing fish to supply local markets.
“Imports of fish from abroad, especially from Vietnam, will hurt the local farmed fish business because the imported fish are priced lower than the locally farmed fish,” Touch told Khmer Times.
Prime Minister Hun Sen has encouraged farmers to engage in sustainable aquaculture activities to promote domestic production, and in turn, boost the national economy.
Figures from the ministry showed that yield of farmed fish reached 400,000 tonnes last year, while fish caught from natural lakes and marine fish were 413,200 tonnes and 122,700 tonnes respectively.
Natural fish catches have greatly dropped due to the low water levels of the Tonle Sap Lake, which is the largest nesting site for fish in Cambodia.
The report added that Cambodia’s fish production export was valued $8 million.
Source: https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50800805/call-to-block-illegal-fish-imports/