Communities Fisheries and Database Development

Since 2000, the Royal Government of Cambodia has undertaken significant reforms in the fisheries sector, notably all fishing lots, nationwide were abolished and most of the areas were handed to local communities for small-scale fishing and organized into community-based organization, called Community Fisheries (CFis). This reform empowered local communities with the authority and responsibility to participate in the sustainable management and protection of fisheries resources.

As of 2025, a total of 526 CFis have been established across the country—482 in freshwater areas and 44 in marine areas. Among these, 456 CFis have been officially registered and recognized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF).

CFis play a vital role in the conservation, management, and sustainable use of Cambodia’s aquatic resources. With support from the Fisheries Administration and development partners, CFis have benefited from technical assistance, e.g. training in fisheries management, and have been provided with small grants aimed at enhancing their capacity in participatory governance, law enforcement, and increasing transparency of CFC management.

Under the EU/FAO CAPFISH-Capture Programme, the Fisheries Administration developed a detailed guideline for administering a small grant of USD 1,000 per community. These grants were provided to 150 CFis and 100 Community Fish Refuges (CFRs) for the implementation of their area management plan. Committee members of CFis and CFRs received various capacity-building support, including training in budget planning, financial disbursement, bookkeeping, and results-based reporting aligned with their management plans.

To promote knowledge sharing and improve access to experience, knowledge, and information on CFis, the Fisheries Administration—through technical support from the FAO CAPFISH-Capture Programme and in partnership with Open Development Cambodia (ODC)—developed a Data Portal for Community Fisheries in 2024. This online platform provides comprehensive data, maps, and profiles of CFis, including information on fishing area sizes, membership, governance status, and community achievements. The database serves as a key tool for activity planning, policy development, and decision-making aimed at enhancing sustainable community-based fisheries management in Cambodia.