Prime Minister Hun Sen has urged for strengthening the population of Mekong dolphins and mega fish by building core conservation areas to protect the species in Kratie and Stung Treng under the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and provincial authorities.

Eleventh Dolphin Found Dead in Mekong in 2022

On Monday, at the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a 1,761-meter-long bridge in Kratie province, the Prime Minister urged stakeholders, especially in Kratie and Stung Treng provinces, to be more concentrated and responsible regarding dolphin and mega fish conservation after the news of the dolphin population’s demise.

“The governors of Kratie and Stung Treng provinces related to protected areas must be responsible. Without relying solely on the Ministry of Agriculture, this dolphin area must be protected. As I know, in the past few weeks, there have been deaths of dolphins,” the Prime Minister stated.

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On December 22, a report was lodged with WWF by a local, who discovered a dead dolphin floating in waters in Koh Trung commune, Kratie town. The deceased dolphin was an adult female of 193 cm long, aged between seven- and 10-years-old, and weighing about 85kg.

The 11th dead dolphin of 2022 was discovered on December 23 with a longline fishing hook wrapped around its body, fluke and flipper. The dead dolphin was an adult female of 196 cm long, aged between seven- and 10-years-old, and weighing about 93kg.

Eleven dolphins have died in 2022 (as of 24 December), bringing the total number of dead dolphins to 29 in the last three years, according to the WWF.

“For the Mekong River that is rich in dolphins and other types of fish that are endangered, especially dolphins, must be well organized,” Hun Sen said during the ceremony.

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He added, “The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has to pay more attention to do whatever plans [for dolphin conservation]. But the one that is directly responsible for the area is the provincial authorities, to ensure that all the dolphins are not going to get stuck in fishnets or be disturbed [by humans].”

He clarified that the conservation and protection of dolphins is under the authority of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, including the provincial authorities of Kratie and Stung Treng provinces, who must take control and responsibility.

Hun Sen said there should be permanent core conservation areas to set water boundaries for dolphin conservation that does not allow citizens to fish. In addition, there will be a temporary conservation place for the tidal area.

He mentioned that dolphin conservation can also transform tourism sites to attract more tourists and create more jobs for locals, such as making sticky rice in bamboo to sell there. While the upcoming construction of a bridge across the Mekong River from Chit Borey district to Prek Prosop district, Kratie will help attract tourists to visit the Mekong dolphin sightseeing area as the bridge is close.

“From the Laos border to the Kratie area, there must be more caution and concentration on the local areas [of dolphins]. I hope that our citizens will participate in conservation by not fishing in the prohibited areas,” he said.

After the call from the Prime Minister, the World Wide Fund for Nature-Cambodia (WWF-Cambodia) posted on its Facebook page that it welcomes the announcement from Prime Minister Hun Sen to ensure the remaining dolphins and mega fish are protected from illegal fishing activities.

Seng Teak, WWF-Cambodia Country Director, applauded the Prime Minister’s recommendations on the establishment of the permanent core conservation zones and seasonal core conservation areas within a 180 km stretch of Cambodia’s Mekong River, where all kinds of fishing activities are prohibited to protect the dolphins and mega fish.

“WWF stands ready to collaborate with relevant authorities including the Dolphins Commission, Fisheries Administration of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and Provincial Administrations of Kratie and Stung Treng provinces, to support the effective management of this critically endangered species and to implement the Prime Minister’s recommendations,” he added.