Fish Sanctuaries In The Tonle Sap Great Lake (Cambodia)
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Date
2011-01
Authors
Chheng, Pheng
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
Eight fish sanctuaries namely Pi Stoun, Chroy Sdey, Kampong Preak, Reang Til, Dey Roneat, Park Konteal, Kampong Pluk and Ba Lot are situated in different parts of the Tonle Sap Great Lake. They were established in 1987 with average area of 2,616 ha, to be act as fish refuge during dry season. These sanctuaries are totally protected from fishing activities in the whole year round, as compared to the open access areas where fishing activities are allowed either in the whole year round or in the open fishing season. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficiency of eight existing fish sanctuaries by conducting biological and sociological surveys in June 2005 (close fishing season) and in December-January 2006 (open fishing season). Trammel nets were used within each sanctuary and about 3-5 km away from the sanctuary in the open access area. In parallel 166 stakeholders around the Tonle Sap Lake were interviewed. The study showed that during close fishing season, fish biomass, fish abundance in Pi Stoun, fish abundance in Dey Roneat and species richness in Park Konteal were significantly higher than their test sites. In the open fishing season, Pi Stoun, Reang Til and Dey Roneat had significantly higher biomass and species richness than their test sites. Kampong Preak and Kampong Pluk sanctuaries had significantly higher biomass than their test sites. Seventy five fish species were caught during the period of the study; with two fish species Henicorhynchus siamensis and Paralaubuca typus showing high abundance in Tonle Sap in the year round. Survey with stakeholders showed they strongly believed the existing fish sanctuaries are very important for fish refuge, especially in dry season. They also agreed that the current locations of those sanctuaries are at the right place,
with exception of Park Koteal sanctuary. However, most agreed that the current sanctuaries management is not effective, and poaching is frequent in some sanctuaries during dry season.
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Keywords
Eight fish sanctuaries are situated in different parts , of the Tonle Sap Great Lake