The Cambodian Aqua Culturist Association (CAA) was officially launched Tuesday at the Himawari Hotel in Phnom Penh to promote the aquaculture sector in the country.
The launching ceremony took place under the presidency of Veng Sakhon, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
The Minister expressed his congratulations to the CAA, stressing that its creation is in line with the policy of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to boost the aquaculture sector in all aspects, including legal procedures, production techniques, administrative and financial matters to increase the productivity of Cambodian aquaculture, both in quantity and quality, to ensure food security and increased quantity of local market supply and export.
The association’s role, tasks and achievements will contribute significantly to increasing the amount of fisheries products, reducing fish catches from natural sources in accordance with population growth, market demand, job creation at local level, increased incomes and guaranteed family food security, especially during this COVID-19 crisis, he added.
He also advised the Association to continue promoting the development of freshwater and marine aquaculture in line with the “National Strategic Plan for Aquaculture Development 2016-2030”, to enhance family-based to commercial fish farming, increase the number of research and development centres for fish species, strengthen capacities of fishing communities, and so on.
According to the minister, up to now Cambodia has 516 fishing communities, of which 475 are freshwater and 41 marine, 677 fisheries conservation areas, 895 community ponds, and 309 fish hatcheries of which 269 are owned by farmers, with a total of 46,000 aqua culturists. C. Nika – AKP
This article was first published in Khmer Times. All contents and images are copyright to their respective owners and sources.
