A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resources and Development

Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2004

Freshwater fisheries are of very significant importance to the livelihood of people in Cambodia. The past management systems of fisheries focused on large scale-fishing lot owner groups. As a result, the policy reform of fisheries was made by the Prime Minister, Hun Sen, in October 2000, to release some parts or the whole fishing lot areas to local fishing communities. Soon after the reform, anarchic fishing and over-fishing prevailed in the Chruy Chek reservoir. Having seen these issues, this work questioned of how local communities can manage, exploit and conserve fisheries resources sustainably. The concept of community based fisheries management is advocated by the Government (MAFF and DoF) and NGOs as a way of achieving these objectives. Since the concept of CBFM in Cambodia is very new, the study is proposed to understand different points of views or perceptions and attitudes of different stakeholders about CBFM in Cambodia after the recent policy reform of fisheries. Prior to a detailed insight study, a general case study of current perception of local fishermen about community fisheries or community based fisheries management in Kampong Cham province was carried out as a starting point. This follow-up study, looking at all relevant stakeholders in the use and management of fisheries in some specific areas, is a more in-depth case study in Chruy Chek community fisheries. The research strategy tended to follow the inductive approach, where qualitative aspects were investigated from different stakeholders of fisheries resources in Chruy Chek reservoir of Champong Cham province. Various research methods were applied including open-ended questionnaire, free interviews, key informant's interviews and group discussion and PRA. The analysis result about perceptions and attitudes indicated, most of the local communities are very happy to have a legal right in management of the fisheries resources used in and by these communities. The committee members and all locals participated to share ideas in community fishery management planning. Moreover, they are active in patrolling around the community fishery fishing to detect fishing anarchy. This is important to give them a sense of ownership in fishery resources management. Recommendations to response to the constraints for the establishment and implementation of community fisheries and CBFM in reservoir are provided. Finally, self-reflections and further studies are made.