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With Oxfam Australia's support, fisherfolk such as Seng Yuvann, of Koh Phdau village in Cambodia — pictured here on his boat — are learning to better protect their fish resources. Photo: Maureen Bathgate/OxfamAUS.

An important part of Laviphangdeng village’s fisheries plan is to educate children about the importance of protecting natural resources. Here, Grade 5 student Putsuan holds a picture she has drawn that shows the river, village, dead fish and discarded poisons. Photo: Jerry Galea/OxfamAUS.

Help us restore the livelihoods of fishing communities

The Mekong Basin forms the lifeblood for rural communities who live along it. This is especially true in Cambodia and Laos, two of the poorest countries in South East Asia, where villagers rely on fish as a source of food and income.

But aggressive illegal fishing, rapid population growth and the construction of dams are having a devastating impact on poor communities who are dependent on the river.

“In 1999 there was almost no fish in the river,” Laviphangdeng village committee member Manixa Khambou told us. “We had very little. It was very difficult on the community. People used chemicals or weapons to catch the fish. It was very destructive. In 2004, the fish conservation zone was set up… Today we see more fish.” – Manixa Khambou told us.

Oxfam Australia is working with riverside communities, local organisations and governments in Laos and Cambodia on ways to effectively protect fish resources and ensure coastal communities have access to secure food supplies for generations to come.  

One of the communities to have benefited from this project is the small village of Koh Phdau in Northern Cambodia. Here, fisherfolk have managed to reverse the decline of fish catch by imposing restrictive access to fishing grounds and monitoring the use of illegal fishing gear and methods. Now the community is once again feeling hopeful about its future.

The amount of illegal fishing has been reduced. The electric shock and bombs have all stopped; they just use the nets now... Now we have the fish protection zone here, we catch about 3 to 4kg of fish a night. Also the fish are very big fish
– Kaom Sokham from Koh Phdau explains.

We are also helping coastal communities to diversify their livelihoods by growing rice or vegetables or raising livestock. By teaching people new skills, they can reduce their dependency on fish for food and income and become more self-sufficient.  

Another aspect of the project involves promoting a better understanding of the causes of fish decline and the importance of protecting natural resources including fisheries. Koh Phdau health promotion volunteer Sok Sim says that thanks to the Oxfam programs, villagers now have better resources and systems to improve their health, food supplies and living standards.

Oxfam has supported us for school construction, bridge construction, rice bank … They helped us set up the fish conservation area…. The villagers here say many thanks to Oxfam Australia for coming here
– Sok Sim.

Please help communities such as these have access to secure food supplies for generations to come by making a donation today or by calling our donation hotline on 1800 088 110.

Whatever you can give will make a difference to someone’s life.

$20 will pay for young fish to be raised in community-managed fish ponds and released into rivers to restock fish supplies.

$152 can buy a boat for a Cambodian family to use for fishing and transport.