The use of mangroves for aquaculture: Cambodia.

Abstract

Natural conditions of the coastal and ecosystems of Cambodia have made this country rich of biodiversity resources. Cambodia’s 435 km coastline is covered with large estuaries with about 85,100 ha of mangrove forests (Nelson 1999). Even the coastline disadvantageously compares to that of other countries of the Southeast China Sea region, but its natural creations such as large and small bays, number of big and small inshore and off-shore islands, sea floor, oceanic current, freshwater rivers and streams, weather etc., support the diversification of all bio-resources. Fortunately, due to the fact that most Cambodians are interested in inland rather than coastal aquaculture, as well as suitable development management and conservation policies of the Government in the past, these natural habitats remained pristine until 1970. However, the habitats have been disturbed because of the various exploitation and development works for several decades during the wartime and even after, due to lack of managerial strategy.

Cambodia had joined the Biodiversity Convention since February 1994, but until now, due to economic depression and poverty, the national awareness on the importance of biodiversity conservation is very limited. The crowded competition on exploitation of nature including coastal and marine resources, have been very aggressive in recent years that degraded the natural environment faster. Currently, many efforts and attempts by NGOs and international organizations have been made in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, to alleviate the marine and coastal resources pressures.