Public pond where used to be illegal fishing became conserved and developed pond for reproductive fish.

Since many years, Trapaing Phlong Lake where situated in Keo Por Commune of Pouk District, Siem Reap Province has been the fishing area of villagers. Yet the last few years, because of illegal fishing and pumping the fisheries have faced the devastation. Seeing the illegal fishing and impacts, on 16^th October 2012, Commune-Based Organizations (CBOs) agreed to conduct an advocacy campaign to request to conserve the significant lake where it’s the main source for income generation in the commune. With support from Mak Forum Syd through Fisheries Action Coalition Team (FACT), committee and members of CBOs had implemented following activities: a commune-level meeting to find solution, raising awareness on law on natural resource management, patrolling, building information board, constructing guard cottage, planting, building capacity, establishing saving group and establishing conservation area.  

Due to the speech of Mr. Lous Lay, Commune Chief of Keo Por, stated that the reason of handing over the Trapaing Phlong Lake to CBOs because they are strong enough to stop the illegal fishing activities. The lake benefits to the fishers in many ways in generating incomes.  The lake doesn’t serve only Keo Por Commune but also Krapey Real and Khat Communes.

He added that after handing over the lake to CBOs, on 21^st January 2013 there was an election of 7-member committee, 2 women. The committee was officially acknowledged by fisheries unit and supported by monks and fishers. He added that there has been active participation and high commitment from the committee to conserve the lake for the benefit to fishers, especially to conserve for the next generation. In the name of local authority, he will mobilize and encourage the committee and fishers in conserving the lake for the next generation. Mr. Lous Lay stated that presently the fish in the lake is around 10 tons and there are 6 crocodiles, 2 adults and 4 kids. At the same time, villagers can also live depending on aquaculture in the lake such as morningglory. Moreover, villagers can use water to consume and irrigate their crops, especially easing the women and children in the village.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kong Bunthoeun, vice chief of CBO, chief of committee of Fish Conservation Lake and on behalf of the 7-member committee, happily addressed that he highly committed to conserve the lake. He added that claiming to conserve the reproductive fish lake by CBO is getting coordination from commune/village authority and especially FACT’s staff by providing consultation and knowledge to motivate the committee members to bring the success for the campaign. Last but not least, CBO got funding support from Mak Forum Syd to raise awareness on Laws on Fisheries and Environment and advantages of protecting natural resources to villagers in 7 villages of Keo Por Commune.