Cambodia’s Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Veng Sakhorn meets with the new ASA/WISHH-supported Cambodian Aquaculturalist Association (CAA) at the Ministry headquarters in Phnom Penh.

Cambodia’s Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Veng Sakhorn met with the new ASA/WISHH-supported Cambodian Aquaculturalist Association (CAA) on August 4 at the Ministry headquarters in Phnom Penh. His Excellency hosted the discussion with nine CAA board members and CAST staff in a meeting that validated the importance of the new association to Cambodia.

He congratulated the CAA leaders for successfully establishing the new association and commended them for their rapid progress. His Excellency emphasized how the CAA can significantly contribute to increasing the amount of Cambodian-grown fish and protecting natural resources while making protein more available for Cambodia’s growing population. The Minister said strengthening aquaculture markets will boost household incomes and food security, which are a priority for Cambodia and its economic recovery from COVID-19.

His Excellency urged the CAA to contribute to the high-level agenda for aquaculture described by Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen on July 14 during his tour of the Freshwater Aquaculture Research and Development Center. The association can unite as a force to support technical training opportunities as well as champion effective policy for the growth of the aquaculture sector.

CAA representatives presented His Excellency with information on the obstacles faced by local fish farmers, such as water resource management, weak market system, and competition with imported fish from neighboring countries. His Excellency encouraged the CAA to work with the Fisheries Administration (FIA) to increase the commercial scale of aquaculture in Cambodia. He also accepted the CAA’s invitation to attend the CAA’s formal launch event on September 23.

The establishment and development of the association are foundational to WISHH’s strategy under the USDA-funded Commercialization of Aquaculture for Sustainable Trade (CAST) Cambodia project.