A young female dolphin, 2.1 metres in length and weighing 108kg, died after being caught in an illegal fishing net on Aug 16. - Agriculture ministry
PHNOM PENH: A floating guard station will be put into operation during the upcoming dry season to enhance the conservation of the Mekong River Irrawaddy dolphins in Kratie province, according to Ouk Vibol, head of the Fisheries Conservation Department at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
Vibol explained that in order to improve the efficiency of dolphin conservation efforts, several structures are being built, including a floating post for river monitoring and buoys to mark locations.
He said the post is to be used in addition to the existing land-based guard stations, from which boats are dispatched to patrol and protect the dolphins.
“We built an additional floating guard post so that we can easily relocate them to central locations or islands, allowing more effective monitoring of unauthorised fishing gear,” he added.
Vibol noted that one has already been completed and will be deployed during the dry season, particularly in the Anlong Kampi conservation area.
He explained that the structure consists of a ferry supported by a raft made of large bamboo poles, with a house built from wood and topped with a zinc roof.
He said another floating post is expected to be built in 2025 for use in Stung Treng province.
According to the ministry, the number of Mekong River dolphins in Cambodia reached 105 as of June 2024, including eight newborns. However, three dolphins have died this year, including a young female that lost her life in August near Anlong Kampi in Kratie province’s Prek Prasap district after getting caught in a 15cm gillnet.
Following the death of the dolphin due to the illegal fishing net, a meeting was held last week between ministry and fishery officials and 44 river guards in Kratie to strengthen protection measures and enhance dolphins conservation.
Ministry undersecretary of state and spokeswoman Im Rachana noted during the meeting that, despite the river guards' tireless 24-hour shifts to prevent illegal fishing, the use of large gillnets and electrofishing equipment persists in the province, posing a significant threat.
Vibol, who attended the meeting, said the discussion also sought to address the challenges faced by river guards in combating illegal activities and to propose solutions.
He explained that illegal fishing continues because some individuals operate at night, with the nets often hidden underwater, making them difficult to detect.
“Most illegal nets are cast at night, so we need to implement 24-hour monitoring at key sites, particularly in the Kampi area, where dolphin populations are higher.
"The nets are submerged and invisible to the naked eye, and can only be found with long-handle hooks by the guards,” he explained.
Kratie provincial administration director Men Vanna stated that local authorities and river guards are working on conservation efforts, though some individuals take advantage of remote and complex geographical areas, such as rocky regions, to carry out illegal fishing. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
