Cambodia & Kep: A project that gives hope to fishing communities

The ‘Sustainable Coastal and Marine Fisheries Project’ by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and its partners, including the Agence Française de Développement, has helped communities to enjoy stable incomes and leave a healthier environment for future generations, said Masato Kanda, President of the ADB, during his visit to Kep last week.

On his first visit to Cambodia, specifically to gain first-hand experience of the SCMF project in the community fisheries of Phum Thmei, Kep province, Mr Kanda said the project had revitalised coastal fish stocks, strengthened coastal livelihoods and involved communities in the management of key marine resources.

Mr Kanda was accompanied by Dith Tina, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), Kep provincial officials, fishing communities and other relevant officials

‘During my visit, I saw how fishing families were adopting environmentally-friendly methods and improved landing sites to protect coastal ecosystems and support their daily income,’ said Mr Kanda.

He added that the main aim of the project was to give fishermen the right tools and support to manage their fishing grounds responsibly. Thanks to new mooring facilities and simpler methods for landing and storing their catches, families are able to earn a more stable living.

In addition, the local committees have learned about sustainable fishing practices and have been encouraged to share this knowledge with other members of the community.

Mr Kanda said that in his discussions with the fishermen, they had reported an increase in fish stocks since they began using more responsible fishing gear and following guidelines that preserve marine habitats.

Minister Tina said it was important for the ADB President to be personally present to meet the fishing communities, where the bank has supported several community projects with the collaboration of the Royal Government of Cambodia.

‘This project contributes to the development of our communities and the protection of our marine fishery resources. We are not just talking about the province of Kep, but also all the coastal provinces such as Kep, Kampot, Koh Kong and Sihanoukville’, said the Minister.

The Sustainable Coastal and Marine Fisheries Project, which supports fishing communities, is funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) with a total implementation budget of $104 million. This budget includes $41 million in ADB loans, $22 million in ADB grants, $10 million in co-financing from the ASEAN Infrastructure Fund, $20 million from Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and $11 million from the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC).

The project supports community fisheries through a number of key activities aimed at building resilience, improving livelihoods and promoting sustainable fisheries management.

Key activities include sustainable fisheries management, economic and livelihood support, alternative income opportunities, business incubation, ecosystem restoration, infrastructure and upgrading, and community capacity building.

The project commenced on 21 March 2023, with a completion date of the end of February 2030.

The project is being implemented by the Fisheries Administration (FiA), the Ministry of Environment (MOE) and Khmer Entrepreneurs (KE). The project covers the provinces of Kampot, Kep, Koh Kong and Sihanoukville, and the target beneficiaries are 25 of the 41 community marine fisheries declared to the authorities.