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Hearing the name of Dontry community-based organization (CBO) the illegal fishing persons are frightened over Moung Russey District of Battambang Province. Dontry CBO always show up immediately once there is any illegal fishing activity throughout Moung Russey. In 2012, after 100% abolishment of all fishing lots Dontry CBO and Community Fisheries (CFi) has become member of a district unified unit responsible to crack down the illegal fishing activities in the district. Both committee and members of the CBO have actively and highly committed to participate in the crack-down activities. |
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| Mr. Sem Bor, chair of Dontry CBO and leader of Dontry CFi stated that; “protection of all resources in the community is the duty of me as well as all other population. If there is no protection there will be disappeared and we are the most affected persons.” He added; “I am happy and feel so proud that Fisheries Action Coalition Team has become our development partner. The Organization always provided training courses, built us capacities such as Basic Human Rights, Fisheries Law, Advocacy Strategy, Court Case Filing Mechanism, Proposal Development, Project Management, Gender, Good Governance, Climate Change and study tours. It’s the main factor to drive me as well other population the community to enhance our knowledge about our own rights and dare to speak (in public) and raise our own requests or issues to local authorities and other relevant stakeholders to answer. Moreover, they (local authorities and relevant stakeholders) participated in development and protection of resources in community through contributing inputs once community raised annual action plan of community and Commune Investment Plan (CIP) as well as their (local authorities) contribution in terms of labor and cash to support conservation and restoration efforts”. |  |
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During the reflection of project implementation in 2013, committee of Dontry CBO has strongly committed in front of commune authorities and experts; “Eventhough there is any involvement of some powerful persons in committing the illegal activities whenever there is still existence of the CBO the illegal activities will never occur within Moung Russey District”. After Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) issued Regulation No.01 and Sub-Decree 37 R.Kr.B.K M.K.N, the communities found that the fishing lot abolishment by providing more accessibilities to fisheries resources to the small scale fishers and keep some areas for the purpose of fisheries conservation is facing challenges as some persons taking this opportunity to commit illegal activities. Seeing these challenges, some fishers and CBO members together have strongly taken actions and solved the problems through patrolling, building educational signboards, meetings to disseminate Fisheries Law, Regulation No.01, Sub-Decree No. 37 and other relevant laws to people in the community in order to enhance people’s knowledge on fisheries resources management and crack-down illegal activities. These activities have been implemented in coordination and support by FACT and finance by Forum Syd. Because of this active participation of committee of CBO in development and natural resources conservation activities trust has been strengthened among community members through voting voices to elect him (Sem Bor) as chair of Dontry CBO committee. Since then, both CBO and CFi became one voice. |
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| According to Mr. Kak Bunthan, chair of Chrey Commune Council and Management Committee of Battambang CBO; “Illegal fishing activities in Moung Russey have been decreased compared to year 2012, especially severe-except minor- illegal fishing activities in Chrey Commune have totally stopped. This great job has been achieved with good cooperation from people through reporting the cases and participation of CFi members, especially participation of CBO who has always participated to disseminate the relevant rules/regulations and build capacities to the people”. He happily added; “ So far, Dontry CBO has supported the commune a lot, comparatively my right hand. The CBO always shows face to participate in developing commune’s action plan, capacity building to community members and natural resources management, especially show face at place where there is illegal fishing activity. Last but not least, FACT has played very significant role to achieve the great result through building and strengthening its own human resources to support our commune”. |  |
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