KAMPONG PHLUK, Cambodia (AP) — Em Phat, 53, diligently observes his eel tanks, fully aware that his livelihood is at stake. For generations, fishermen like him have depended on the Tonle Sap, Southeast Asia’s largest lake and a hub for one of the world’s most productive inland fisheries. However, various factors such as climate change, upstream dams on the Mekong River, and rampant deforestation have severely disrupted these traditional fishing practices.
The pressing challenges of dwindling fish numbers and increasingly hazardous living conditions due to intensified storms are changing the landscape for local fishermen. “Being a fisherman is hard,” Phat shares, illustrating the struggle faced by many in his community.
To secure a more stable income, Phat has turned to eel farming, which he hopes will be a profitable venture. Eels are considered a delicacy in markets across Asia, including China, Japan, and South Korea. He manages multiple tanks, where translucent eel eggs float gently in glass aquariums, voracious glassy larvae swim eagerly in plastic containers, and larger tubs equipped with bicycle tires provide hiding spots for juvenile eels.
Despite the potential profitability of raising eels, the endeavor is fraught with challenges. Eels require meticulously maintained environments with pure, oxygenated water and specific diets, making them expensive and difficult to cultivate. Phat once lost many eels during a power outage that halted his oxygen pumps, yet he remains hopeful. Residing on land instead of in floating homes allows his wife, Luy Nga, 52, to grow vegetables for personal use and sale, contributing to their household income.
“The eels hold value and may be exported to China and other countries in the future,” he declared confidently, emphasizing the potential for growth in his new venture.
Historically, the Tonle Sap lake, or “Great Lake,” served as an abundant resource, expanding to cover an area larger than Qatar during the rainy season. This seasonal flooding created an ideal breeding ground for a wide array of fish species, supported by the natural “flood pulse” characteristic of the Mekong River system. The Mekong Basin has produced nearly 20% of the world’s freshwater fish catch, supporting over three million people who depend on fishing. In fact, more than one-third of Cambodia’s 17 million population relies on the fisheries sector, with fish providing up to 70% of the nation’s animal protein intake.
However, upstream dams in China and Laos are stifling the river’s flow, undermining this crucial flood pulse. Overfishing has depleted fish stocks and much of the surrounding forest has been cleared for agriculture. Although Cambodian authorities hesitate to quantify the decline in fish populations, the impact is evident.
This year, according to the Mekong Dam Monitor, the vital flood pulse experienced a delay of two months, adversely affecting the ecosystem. Zeb Hogan, a fish biologist at the University of Nevada, emphasizes that aquaculture, including eel farming, can provide fishermen like Phat with a buffer against these changes, empowering them to gain more control over their income and livelihoods.
Phat is among thousands benefiting from a program run by the UK-based nonprofit VSO, which aims to enhance the incomes of those living around the Tonle Sap. VSO supplies him with baby eels and offers training on their cultivation. As eel demand rises both in Cambodia and internationally, Sum Vy, VSO’s coordinator, highlights that teaching local fishermen how to farm eels and produce their young can have a ripple effect within the community.
Expanding aquaculture could enhance Cambodia’s economy, as the country is witnessing significant growth in fish production, which has increased 24-fold since 2001. Most of this production comes from inland waters, with the government recently launching initiatives to improve fish processing and address food safety, hoping to start exporting to Europe by next year.
The Cambodian government has also signed trade agreements with China and began exporting frozen eels to Shanghai last year. “This export will contribute to economic growth, creating jobs for our farmers and fishermen,” stated Heng Mengty, the export manager for a Cambodian fish exporter. Still, this promise of growth is urgently needed for families in fishing communities around the lake.
Many families reside in floating homes year-round or in homes built on stilts to protect against seasonal floods. For numerous households, fishing serves as the sole means of survival. However, the decline in fish populations is palpable; nets now yield mere fractions of what they once did, with stories of the giant fish that were once common now becoming increasingly rare.
Som Lay, a 29-year-old fisherman, recalls how just a decade ago, the lake was thriving with fish. With illegal fishing on the rise, many families are abandoning the profession, seeking land to cultivate rice instead. “The entire village — my family and others — is facing these difficulties,” he regrets, encapsulating the struggles prevalent in his community.
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Associated Press journalist Sopheng Cheang contributed to this report.
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