Joint Forces Destroy Over 1,200 Meters of Illegal Fishing Barriers in Kampong Thom-Siem Reap Border Area

PHNOM PENH — Sept. 15, 2026: A joint military operation on Tuesday destroyed a substantial cache of illegal fishing equipment along the border between Chi Kraeng district in Siem Reap province and Stoung district in Kampong Thom province, in a continued effort to protect Cambodia's inland fisheries.

The operation was conducted under the authority of the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and Commander of the Royal Cambodian Army, and the Commander of Military Region 4. Lieutenant General Som Sun, Commander of the Kampong Thom Sub-Regional Operations Command, issued orders to light command forces in Peam Bang commune to collaborate with joint forces. The operation was led by Major Luk Sophak, who heads the light command group responsible for combating illegal fishing in Peam Bang commune.

According to Lieutenant General Som Sun, the joint forces dismantled and destroyed a range of prohibited gear. This included 24 mosquito-net barriers spanning more than 1,200 meters, 34 mosquito-net rollers, and 45 funnel traps or nets. Authorities also removed three fish-trap barriers that exceeded the legal length limit, totaling over 650 meters, along with six fish-trap rollers and 12 fish-trap funnels or nets.

In addition, the operation led to the release of approximately 40 kilograms of mixed fish back into the water. The forces also removed 980 wooden poles and various other illegal fishing devices from the site.

Lieutenant General Som Sun, in his capacity as Permanent Vice President of the Kampong Thom Provincial Committee for the Protection, Prevention and Crackdown on Natural Resource Crimes, called on the public to stop using illegal fishing equipment. He emphasized that compliance with the law is essential to allow fish stocks to recover. He reaffirmed his commitment to continuing enforcement actions to ensure the success of efforts to combat illegal fishing, serve the interests of the people, and safeguard national fisheries resources for future generations.

Source: Royal Cambodian Army


Reported by The Khmer Daily Network