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In November 2024, the FAO project Smart Fisheries Co-management (SFC) conducted a series of capacity-building activities in Cambodia. These initiatives aimed to enhance sustainable fisheries management and diversify livelihoods were held in collaboration with the Fisheries Administration (FiA), the Korea Fisheries Association (KFA), and RARE. The activities encompassed training workshops and data collection efforts targeting Community Fisheries (CFis) in Kampi and Ou Mreah.

The initiatives have successfully laid the ground for sustainable fisheries co-management and diversified livelihoods in Cambodia. Through comprehensive training, collaborative planning, and targeted data collection, the SFC project has empowered community fisheries and local authorities to achieve long-term socio-economic and environmental benefits. Moving forward, these efforts will serve as a model for fostering resilient fishing communities across the region.

Training workshop for national-level stakeholders on sustainable livelihoods development

Held on 7 and 8 November 2024 in Phnom Penh, this workshop introduced 28 participants, including national-level FiA officers and representatives from Kratie and Stung Treng provinces, to sustainable livelihood approaches. Facilitated by Professor Robert Pomeroy from RARE, the sessions focused on types and components of sustainable livelihoods and step-by-step process for developing and implementing sustainable livelihoods in Cambodia.

Participants engaged in discussions about supplemental, diversified, and alternative livelihoods, emphasizing the importance of community-led approaches. The workshop’s outcomes included better understanding of sustainable livelihood planning and actionable steps for Community Fisheries.

Training workshop on local livelihoods development solutions and specific to the implementation of aquaculture projects in Ou Mreah CFi, Stung Treng province

The FAO project SFC, in partnership with KFA collaborated to develop the "Technical Guidelines for Aquaculture Development in Ou Mreah Community Fisheries (CFi), Stung Treng, Cambodia". The guidelines were formulated with substantial contributions from the project team, incorporating field-based insights to ensure practical applicability. To promote effective understanding and implementation, training sessions were conducted to enhance the capacity of CFi members. The training workshop was held on 11 and 12 November 2024 at the Upper Mekong Animal Production Research Centre (MAPC) in Stung Treng.  42 participants, including members of the Ou Mreah CFi, attended the session led by Dr. Myeong Jeong of KFA, which covered species selection and pond construction, feeding and nutrition management, disease control and economic analysis.

Participants also gained practical experience through site visits to the MAPC, practical sessions, and translated materials.

Training workshop on local livelihoods development solutions and specific to the implementation on ecotourism projects in Kampi CFi, Kratie province

Ecotourism is defined as the travel undertaken to witness the unique natural or ecological quality of particular sites or regions, including the provision of services to facilitate such travel. Cambodia’s tourism contributes to the country economy, therefore ecotourism development could harness economic growth and enhance local livelihoods. In this perspective, the FAO SFC project and KFA collaborated to develop the “Technical Guidelines for Implementing Eco-Tourism Projects in Kampi, Kratie”, and included practical fieldwork during the drafting process.

SFC organized a one-day training to build CFis members capacity to implement ecotourism projects. The workshop was held on 13 November 2024 in Kratie, with 43 participants attending.  Participants gained a comprehensive understanding of their roles in ecotourism projects, including responsibilities such as providing infrastructure, offering service products, and organizing engaging activities for tourists, while also acquiring practical skills in guiding visitors, managing eco-tourism operations, and fostering collaboration with eco-tourism organizations to strengthen community-based tourism initiatives.

During the workshop participants reviewed examples from the Republic of Korea and local practices, setting the ground for creating tailored ecotourism plans for Kampi CFi.

Data collection for the value chain (VC) of fisheries product of the Kampi and Ou Mreah CFis

The value chain represents the series of activities involved in bringing a product or service in bringing a product from production to the final consumer. In fisheries, it encompasses physical transformations, input from services, and supply networks connecting production to consumers. These value chains add significant product value, generate employment, and buffer supply variability, though they remain vulnerable to various impacts.

A value chain analysis (VCA) identifies challenges, such as climate change vulnerabilities, and evaluates the competitiveness of small-scale fishers. It examines industry actors, factors, and relationships to pinpoint constraints and strategies for improving efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness. VCA provides actionable insights for stakeholders and fosters collaboration for policy development.

The SFC project organized a training to enhance the capacity of FiA technical officers in conducting value chain analyses, identifying  opportunities for upgrading,  and understanding local markets, all aimed at supporting livelihood development. By improving product quality, the training aimed to enable fishers to achieve greater value from aquatic products. From 25 to 28 November 2024, a national team conducted data collection for VCA in Kampi and Ou Mreah CFis. The process involved not only training FiA officers on VCA tools and techniques but also developing questionnaires for fishers, traders, and retailers and conducting a total of 73 interviews across the two CFis.

The data collected will support a comprehensive VCA report, enabling stakeholders to enhance product quality and market linkages.